Mental Health and Mental Illness

Flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary related to mental health and mental illness.

Mental Health

State of well-being in which individuals reach their own potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to the community.

Mental Illness

Psychiatric disorders with definable diagnoses and significant dysfunction in mental functioning.

Resilience

Ability and capacity to secure resources needed to support well-being; characterized by regulating emotions and overcoming negative thoughts.

(Ability to “bounce back”)

Diathesis-Stress Model

The most widely accepted explanation of mental illness, which involves genetic vulnerability and environmental stressors.

Risk Factors

Environmental factors, individual attributes, and behaviors that can lead to mental health issues.

Protective Factors

Circumstances or attributes that help individuals cope with stressors and mitigate the risk of mental illness.

Mental Health Continuum

Conceptualizes mental health and illness as points along a spectrum reflecting varying degrees of well-being and distress.

Nature vs. Nurture

Debate regarding the influence of genetic inheritance and early experiences versus environmental factors on psychological disorders.

Mental Health Parity Act (1996)

Legislation requiring insurance companies to provide equal treatment coverage for psychiatric disorders.

Consumer Movement

A movement focused on mental health recovery and the empowerment of individuals with mental health conditions.