chapter 8 - defining mental health

Question 1

WHO definition of mental health

Answer 1

‘a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises [their] own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.’

Question 2

fluctuate

Answer 2

rise and fall irregularly in number or amount

Question 3

resilience

Answer 3

A person’s ability to respond adaptively to stressful life events and cope with uncertainty, influenced by coping strategies, adaptive ways of thinking and social connectedness

Question 4

stressor

Answer 4

An object, entity or event that causes a feeling of stress

Question 5

mental health illness

Question 6

mental health disorder

Answer 6

mental disorder involves a combination of thoughts, feelings and behaviours which are usually associated with significant personal distress and impair the ability of the person to function in their everyday life.
A mental disorder usually refers to conditions which can be diagnosed by a mental health professional.

Question 7

a mentally healthy person will…

Answer 7

Have high levels of functioning
Have social and emotional wellbeing
Have resilience to life stressors

Question 8

high levels of functioning

Answer 8

Able to interact with society to a high level

Question 9

protective factor

Answer 9

a factor that decreases the likelihood of a person
developing a particular mental health problem or
disorder

Question 10

risk factor

Answer 10

factor that will increase the likelihood that an individual will experience mental health
problems or a mental disorder