Mental health

Mental health, mental hygiene and mental wellness are all terms used to describe the absence of mental illness.

Mental health promotion

Mental health promotion works from the principle that everyone has mental health needs, not just people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Mental health promotion is essentially concerned with making changes to society that will promote people's mental well-being.

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Mental health promotion is a term that covers a variety of stategies. These strategies can be seen to occur at three levels:

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• Individual - encouragement of invidual resources by promotion of interventions for self-esteem, coping, assertiveness in areas such as parenting, the workplace or personal relationships.
• Communities - increasing social inclusion and cohesion, developing support structures that promote mental health in workplaces, schools and neighbourhoods.
• Government reduce socioeconomic barriers to mental health at governmental level by promoting equal access for all and support for vulnerable citizens.