Mental Health and Wellbeing Explained: More Than Just the Absence of Illness
Mental health and wellbeing are often used interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same. They go beyond the absence of mental illness—together, they reflect a richer, more complete picture of how we’re doing emotionally, psychologically, and socially.
When we speak of mental health, we’re talking about our ability to handle stress, form meaningful relationships, and navigate life’s challenges with resilience. Wellbeing, on the other hand, is about the quality of our inner life—how fulfilled we feel, how connected we are, and whether we’re living with purpose.
As Viktor Frankl, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, once said:
“Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.”
That “why”—a sense of meaning—is central to wellbeing.
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health is the foundation of how we think, feel, relate, and act. It’s what allows us to show up in life, cope with stress, and make decisions that reflect our values. The World Health Organization defines mental health as:
“A state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to contribute to their community.”
This reminds us that mental health isn’t just about avoiding problems. It’s about actively building a life of connection, meaning, and contribution.
Key aspects of mental health include:
✔ Emotional regulation – Responding to emotions in healthy and adaptive ways.
✔ Resilience – Bouncing back from challenges and adversity.
✔ Cognitive function – Thinking clearly, focusing, and making wise decisions.
✔ Social connectedness – Forming relationships that support and uplift us.
✔ Self-awareness – Understanding what we feel, think, and need.
Mental health exists on a spectrum—just like physical health, it shifts over time. Our genetics, upbringing, relationships, and lifestyle all shape where we sit on that spectrum.
What Is Wellbeing?
While mental health is about how we cope and function, wellbeing is about how we feel about life. It reflects our satisfaction, our emotional richness, and whether we feel we're living in alignment with what matters to us.
Wellbeing can be broken down into five areas:
Emotional Wellbeing
Feeling the full range of human emotions without being overwhelmed.
Practicing self-compassion and emotional resilience.Psychological Wellbeing
Living with a sense of meaning and purpose.
Setting goals that reflect personal growth and achievement.Social Wellbeing
Feeling connected, seen, and supported.
Nurturing relationships that are mutual and trustworthy.Physical Wellbeing
Caring for our body to support our mind.
Prioritising rest, nutrition, movement, and stress management.Workplace & Environmental Wellbeing
Feeling valued and engaged in daily activities.
Living in spaces that offer safety, support, and growth.
How Mental Health and Wellbeing Work Together
Mental health and wellbeing feed into one another. Strong mental health supports greater wellbeing, and a sense of wellbeing protects our mental health.
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.”
– Thomas Merton
Someone with high wellbeing may still feel stress, but they’re equipped with tools and support. Meanwhile, someone with poor mental health may feel unable to cope—even if, from the outside, things look fine.
That’s why taking care of our inner world requires more than quick fixes. It’s about building a life of alignment—bit by bit—through support, reflection, and meaningful action.
A Whole-Person Approach
Mental health and wellbeing are not static—they ebb and flow. A holistic approach recognises that what supports us at one stage of life may need adjusting at another.
What matters is the direction we’re moving in.
We can nurture our mental health by:
Practicing emotional self-care,
Building warm and supportive relationships,
Setting healthy boundaries,
Seeking help when we need it, and
Reconnecting with what gives us meaning.
In doing so, we move from just surviving to truly thriving.
“Wellbeing is not the mere absence of disease. It is about thriving in life across multiple dimensions: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement.”
– Martin Seligman
Let’s invest in thriving—not just treating, but building lives that feel good and do good.
