Mental health is a dynamic, changing state that involves interaction among a group of factors. The gap in understanding mental health lies on the focus on individual factors including the presence of positive emotions or the absence of mental disorders. Mental health is often viewed as a characteristic of individuals and focusing on individual interventions to increase happiness and positive emotions. This underestimates the importance of other factors that interact to determine mental health
Determinants of mental health include:
- Existence/survival component: Life/overarching component: meaning and purpose of life.
- Biological components: genetics (vulnerability to certain conditions), function and structure of the brain.
- Demographic factors: age, gender, ethnicity. They determine protection and risk factors that affect mental health throughout lifetime.
- Economic factors: education, employment, income, living standard.
- Psychological factors: cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, coping, adaptation, psycap.
- Emotional competence: emotional regulation and balance.
- Physical health: diet, sleep, exercise.
- Social factors: quality relationships (family, friends), social status, engagement in social groups, volunteering.
- Family relationships shape social and emotional constructs of children.
Risk factors of poor mental health include:
- Psychological vulnerability: isolation and loneliness, severe or chronic stress, substance abuse.
- Social vulnerability: exclusion, discrimination, stigma.
- Economic vulnerability: unemployment, low income, homelessness.
- Emotional factors: Loss of loved ones, supporting someone with challenges.
- Physical vulnerability: chronic illness, physical challenges.
- Lifestyle factors: poor diet, inactivity.