Mental health

Mental health refers to an individual's emotional and psychological well-being. Merriam-Webster defines mental health as "A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and moving capabilities, function in society, and meet the normal demands of everyday life."

According to the World Health Organization, there is no solitary "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and rival professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined. In general, most experts agree that "mental health" and "mental illness" are not opposites. In other words, the absence of a documented mental disorder is not of necessity an indicator of sound mental health.

One way to think about mental health is by looking at how efficiently and productively a person functions. Feeling capable and competent; being able to grip normal levels of stress, maintain pleasing relationships, and lead an independent life; and being able to "bounce back," or recover from hard situations, are all signs of mental health.

A combination of physical, emotional, social and most highly mental well-being is essential to achieve overall health.