Well-Being And Mental Health

Well-being and health is a concept that has been an area of interest of researchers since quite a long time. Well - being refers to the ideas that individuals hold about themselves, feeling healthy, happy and well off. It generally includes global judgments of life satisfaction and feelings ranging from depression to joy. According to Davidson et al (2003) “Well-being is a state of successful performance throughout the life course integrating physical, cognitive and socio-emotional functions that results in productive activities deemed significant by one’s cultural community, fulfilling social relationships, and the ability to transcend moderate psychosocial and environmental problems. Well being also has a subjective dimension in the sense

Mental health can defined as the balanced development of the individual’s personality and emotional attitudes which enable him to live harmoniously with his fellowmen and community. Mental health forms an integral part of health. It is not confined to the absence of mental illnesses and it goes beyond that. It refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the mental well-being, prevention of mental disorders, and treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by mental disorders. Interventions, focusing on raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health, are necessary for addressing the situation. Mental health, like other aspects of health, is affected by a range of socioeconomic factors that need to be addressed through comprehensive strategies for promotion, prevention, treatment and recovery in a whole-of-government approach. Determinants of mental health and mental disorders include not only individual attributes such as the ability to manage one's thoughts, emotions, behaviours and interactions with others, but also social, cultural, economic, political and environmental factors such as national policies, social protection, living standards, working conditions, and community social supports. Poverty and low education levels are the key amongst these factors. Specific psychological and personality factors also

According to National Mental Health Survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), at least 13.7 per cent of India’s general population has various mental disorders; 10.6 per cent of them require immediate interventions. While nearly 10 per cent of the population has common mental disorders, 1.9 per cent of the population suffers from severe mental disorders.

Mental health and illness concerns spans the entire population of India, however it is the youth and children that are the most affected by it. In India, mental health services, especially for children and adolescents, are limited both in terms of number of facilities as well as trained professionals (WHO-AIMS, 2006). WHO Atlas highlights the low number of mental health professionals in India. The average national deficit of psychiatrists is estimated to be 77% (WHO, 2005). The majority of mental health services are restricted to urban areas, that is, medical colleges or regional mental health