Psychological health encompasses emotional, psychological and social well-being influencing cognition, perception and behaviour. It includes your ability to cope with life’s challenges, maintain healthy relationships and meet your day-to-day needs. If you are feeling sad or anxious, having trouble coping with stress or struggling to sleep, it’s important to talk to your doctor and ask for help. With early and consistent treatment-often a combination of medication and therapy-it is possible to overcome mental illnesses and lead a productive, meaningful and fulfilling life.
The determinants of mental health are complex and vary by individual, group, community and country. The health sector should play an active role in identifying and addressing these determinants, and work with partners from other sectors such as education, labour, justice, transport, environment, housing and welfare.
A number of studies have linked a person’s overall sense of wellbeing to their physical health, with people reporting greater levels of wellbeing associated with higher rates of good health. However, there is a difference of opinion about whether or not this link is causal. Some suggest that misery is directly related to poor health, while others suggest that it is more a function of other factors such as reverse causation, reporting bias or confounding by aspects of the material environment.
In recent years, there have been a variety of conceptual proposals [2] and new designs for interventions that put psychological well-being at the heart of mental health. One example is positive psychology, an approach based on enhancing happiness and flourishing. However, there have been methodological and philosophical critiques that challenge the validity of this movement, particularly its Eurocentric and Western point of view.
Moreover, it is crucial to consider the impact of mental disorders on a person’s quality of life and the long-range costs of care across service systems. The relationship between mental and physical health is fundamental, with those living with a mental illness experiencing co-existing chronic physical conditions at twice the rate of the general population. This diminishes quality of life, extends illness duration and increases healthcare costs.
At MyWorkplaceHealth, we know that improving psychological safety in the workplace requires a broad range of interventions and approaches. We also understand that it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. That’s why we are here to help. Our CEO, Dr. Samra, is a Founding & Ongoing Member of the CSA Technical Committee and a highly-regarded expert in workplace PH&S. Her team provides organizational consulting, leadership development and training & coaching services across a breadth of areas, including mental health awareness, emotional intelligence and psychologically safe leadership.