The World Health Organization (WHO) (2004, P. 13) defines mental health as a state of completeness in the social, physical and emotional wellbeing. It is emphasized that mental health is not just a lack of infirmity or disease. People in the society and my community have displayed ignorance of this fact, and research shows that it is widespread in the world. Creating awareness of the meaning of mental health, and the parameters that determine mental health is essential for the realization of overall health of the people. The notion of viewing mental disease as an extraordinary disease needs to be done away with, and the true sense of the concept instilled into the people.

Background information/Why I chose the topic:

I am interested in exploring this topic because of the attitudes of the people in my community regarding the whole concept of mental health. The sense of the current definition of mental health, (WHO, 2004), is far from conceptualization in my community. People perceive mental health as witchcraft, curse, traditional evil counter-attacks and such strange mythological explanations. According to the WHO (2004, p. 14), there can’t be health without mental health. Further, mental health is determined by a complex of factor-interplay between behaviors, physical activity/inactivity, and trauma (Kobau et al., 2011). Since mental health is more than just the lack or absence of illness, and it exists in a continuum, everyone is likely to suffer it. Such understanding lacks among the majority of the people in my community. Health promotion targeting this topic can be of a greater benefit in improving the health of the members of my community.

Possible interventions:

i). enhancing positive psychology

Kobau et al. (2011) defines positive psychology as the study of such resources and behaviors that strengthen the assets of the community, with a view to preventing

ii). Creating awareness through public education

References

Kalra, G., Christodoulou, G., Tsipas, V., Jenkins, R., Mezzick, J…. & Bhugra, D. (2011). Mental health promotion: guidance and strategies. European Psychiatry, 27(2), 81-86.

Kobau, R., Seligman, E. P., Peterson, C., Diener, E., Zack, M., Chapman, D., & Thomson, W. (2011). Mental health promotion in public health: perspectives and strategies from positive psychology. American Journal of Public Health, 101(8), e1-e9.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2004). Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging is