What is Mental Wellbeing?

The World Health Organization (WHO) Definition:

"A state of wellbeing in which an individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community."

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Why is this important?

🧠 Your Mind, Your Health: The Core of Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle Medicine recognizes that true health is not just the absence of illness. It’s a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. At the very heart of this well-being is your mental health and emotional wellbeing—a foundation that supports and enhances your physical health.

🚨 The State of Mental Health

The current global and national situation highlights the urgent need to focus on mental and emotional health:

Global Snapshot (2019 Estimates) 🌍

• Nearly 1 billion people were living with a mental disorder.

• Of those, 300 million were living with anxiety and 280 million with depression.

• These numbers are estimated to have increased by more than 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Globally, depression is the 3rd leading cause of disability.

The UK Picture

Based on the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS):

• 1 in 6 adults experienced a common mental health problem.

• 1 in 15 adults will attempt suicide in their lifetime.

• Crucially, only 1 in 3 people with a mental health problem receive treatment.

🔗 The Critical Connection: Mind and Body

Emotional distress and mental illness are deeply connected to poor physical health outcomes:

• Chronic stress is a significant predisposing factor for chronic conditions such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), obesity, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

• Depression is a common comorbidity (occurring alongside) conditions like coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Your mental state is not separate from your physical state; the two are in constant communication.

✅ Taking Control: The Modifiable Factors

While some factors contributing to poor mental health are beyond our control (e.g., genetics, adverse childhood events, socioeconomic factors), many are directly related to our daily lifestyles.

This is where Lifestyle Medicine comes in.

Lifestyle Medicine focuses on addressing these modifiable factors—the things you can change—to improve your mental health, emotional wellbeing, and overall physical health. By making intentional, positive changes to your daily habits, you can build a stronger, healthier foundation for your mind and body.

Explore the sub sections (above) under 'mental wellbeing' to understand lifestyle factors can influence your health, and evidence based strategies to optimise these.