Mental Health Promotion

An understanding of mental health promotion requires a clear concept of mental health. Key components of mental health generally include the capacity to: enjoy life, use abilities and achieve goals, contribute to community, deal with life’s inevitable challenges and bounce back from adversity, and form and sustain relationships with others.

Because mental health is more than the absence of mental illness, a person can have a mental illness but still experience mental well-being (for example, attending college and enjoying reciprocal relationships). Conversely, a person can be free of a diagnosed mental illness, but still experiencing mental distress (for example, struggling to cope with a difficult life situation). This notion of mental health and mental illness as two separate constructs, first articulated by Health and Welfare Canada in 1988, is fundamental to our understanding of how mental health promotion principles apply to people with mental illnesses. Mental health promotion refers to the actions taken to strengthen mental health. It applies to all people — specific groups as well as the general population.

September 26, 2008 Mental Health Promotion: A Framework for Action

Mental health promotion is not a new concept, but it is still not well understood. Nevertheless, research is showing that mental health promotion initiatives can have concrete, positive outcomes for the entire population. It is a powerful resource with significant potential for grounding the work of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

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December 22, 2004 Handle with Care: Strategies for Promoting the Mental Health of Young Children in Community-Based Child Care

This booklet was prepared as part of the Early Childhood Care and Mental Health Project, carried out by the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. The purpose of the project was to explore ways that the mental health of young children can be promoted in community-based child care centres. In this context, mental health promotion is seen as development of age-appropriate and culturally relevant life skills that benefit all children’s social and emotional development.

Children Children and Youth Mental Health Mental Health Promotion National Your Mental Health

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Mental Health Promotion