IDIS199_M01_OL-BL_onQ_CompanionGuide

SECTION 01: THE IMPORTANCE OF WELL-BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH

What is Meant by Well-Being and Mental Health?

• Well-Being: Overall state of feeling comfortable, healthy, and happy.

  • Composed of multiple components, including mental health.

• Mental Health: Encompasses psychological, emotional, and social aspects of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

  • Prerequisite for realizing potential, coping with stress, and productivity in work or school.

  • Considered a crucial element of well-being.

Analogy for Mental Health and Well-Being

• Mental Health vs. Physical Health:

  • Good physical health = Body functions well.

  • Good mental health = Mind and emotions function well, managing life’s stresses.

• Well-Being vs. Physical Fitness:

  • Being physically fit = Maximizing physical capabilities.

  • High well-being = Living meaningfully and working towards personal goals.

Historical Origins

• Aristotle: Proposed the notion of eudaimonia (flourishing) as life's goal.

• Cultural Perspectives on Health:

  • Buddhism: Emphasizes balance and harmony with self.

  • African Traditions: Importance of relationships with community and the concept of Ubuntu: flourishing through connection with others.

Components of Well-Being

• Overall Well-Being:

  • Mental Health: Not just absence of illness; includes emotional and social functioning.

    • Positive mental health involves emotional satisfaction, psychological self-realization, and positive social value.

• Physical Health:

  • More than absence of disease; involves disease prevention, adequate sleep, exercise, and nutrition.

• Supportive/Secure Environment:

  • Affects mental and physical health; feeling safe and valued is crucial for well-being.

Contributors to Mental Health

1. Realizing Potential: Assessing if one uses their talents meaningfully.

2. Emotional Health: Includes regulation of feelings and emotional response to challenges.

3. Psychological Health: Involves thought processes, self-awareness, and resilience.

4. Social Connectedness: Importance of healthy relationships and social skills.

Mental Health Spectrum

• Mental health exists on a spectrum - not a binary state.

• Includes:

  • Disorders/Iillness: Clinically diagnosed conditions needing professional treatment (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder).

  • Concerns/Problems: Persistent symptoms causing distress but not severe enough to be classified as an illness.

  • Symptoms: Indicators of possible distress but may be situational, e.g., anxiety or mood fluctuations. but are not severe enough to be considered a diagnosable mental illness

  • Well-being: Characterized by contentment and manageability of stress. (least intense)

Importance of Student Mental Health

• Mental health significantly affects university experience, with increasing demand for mental health services.

• Factors contributing to this demand include academic pressures and life transitions.

Current State of Student Mental Health

• Rising rates of reported mental health concerns among university students (e.g., anxiety and depression).

• Canadian and UK statistics indicate substantial percentages of students report mental health issues (e.g., 26.3% in Canada).

• Worldwide studies reveal high prevalence of mental disorders among college students, underscoring a global concern.

Need for University Mental Health Services

• Increased recognition of mental health issues leads to seeking appropriate services.

• Factors contributing to this need include:

  • At-Risk Age: Transitioning into adulthood is a critical period for mental health development.

  • Transition Period: Adjusting to university life introduces new stressors.

  • Vulnerable Brain: Developmental changes create susceptibility to stressors.

  • Lack of Support: Limited resources for mental health support at universities.

  • Decrease in Stigma: Reduced stigma encourages more people to seek help.

Student Stories: Risk and Protective Factors

• Introduces fictional students Dakota, Lily, Noa, Gabriel, each with unique mental health experiences influenced by personal backgrounds and circumstances.

• Risk Factors may include:

  • Prior experiences of anxiety, feelings of loneliness, substance misuse, academic pressures.

• Protective Factors may include:

  • Good support systems, physical activity, clear goals, resilience, and self-awareness.

Summary of Section 01

• Established the definitions of well-being and mental health, their associated components, and numerous factors affecting students’ mental health and academic performance.

• Introduced fictional students to apply understanding of risk and protective factors.