26/11/2024
For some time, I have been talking about the importance of exploring the idea that wellbeing and mental health are not the same thing. For many wellbeing scientists (yes, they actually exist - in their thousands), they concur that it is possible to have ill mental health, yet to thrive.
The same is true in reverse; one can experience low wellbeing (languishing) and not have a mental health condition. The danger for those who are languishing (have low wellbeing) is that they become far more susceptible to developing a mental illness.
By putting both wellbeing and mental health under the same umbrella, there is growing concern that, despite people's good intentions, outcomes can be undesirable.
This perspective has taken me years to develop and understand (the learning continues on a daily basis!) and it has involved a great deal of personal experience.
The time for a comprehensive understanding of what wellbeing actually is and is not has never been more crucial. The article below sheds some light on the issue in a school context and it makes references to various sources should you be curious to explore this idea further. Additionally, the book "Languishing" by Corey Keyes, provides a fabulous insight to what is possible when we take our understanding of what wellbeing is to the next level.
Well-intentioned activities could be exacerbating children’s mental health problems
