Understanding the difference between mental health, mental illness, and behavioral health …

Have you ever felt misunderstood? So did this Reader’s Digest contributor:

Searching the library for two books by communications expert Deborah Tannen turned into an Abbott and Costello comedy routine.

“What’s the first book?” the librarian asked.

“That’s Not What I Meant,” I said.

“Well, what did you mean?”

“That’s the title of the book,” I explained.

“Okay,” she said, looking at me a little skeptically. “And the other book?”

“You Just Don’t Understand.”

“Excuse me?”

I got both books. Eventually.

People can confuse themselves (and others!) with the words and terms they use, and also because they think in muddled ways. One simple correction to this that can bring greater rationality and self-awareness to our thinking is to be more specific by naming our emotions and thoughts. In other words, terms matter.

When we think “generally” we often miss the specifics, which can impair our understanding.

Clarifying the terms we use helps us think more specifically, more clearly, and better communicate to others what we’re thinking, feeling, experiencing, as well as wanting and needing.

Human behavior is an area where we tend to use terms generally, which may be mis-applied and, therefore, may communicate the wrong message leading to misunderstanding. For example, we often use the terms “mental health” and “mental illness” interchangeably but the two terms don’t have the same meaning. We also tend to use the terms “mental health” and “behavioral health” interchangeably, but they also don’t share the same meaning.

So, let’s take a moment to clarify some differences between these terms.

MENTAL HEALTH and MENTAL ILLNESS
First, mental health and mental illness are related but distinct concepts:

Mental health refers to a person’s overall psychological and emotional well-being. Everyone has “mental health” which can span a broad spectrum of mental states, from positive mental health to the presence of mild or moderate challenges. Mental health encompasses factors like emotional resilience, stress management, self-esteem, healthy relationships, and the ability to cope with life’s challenges. Good mental health is characterized by more consistent rational thinking, emotional stability, the ability to function effectively in daily life, and a general sense of well-being.

Mental illness is related, but different.

Mental illness refers to specific mental health conditions or disorders that significantly disrupt a person’s thoughts, emotions, behavior, or daily functioning. Mental illnesses are diagnosed medical conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and others. Such conditions can be severe and usually require treatment.

So, a person may struggle with a mental health issue, but may not have a mental illness. Or a person may suffer from a diagnosable mental illness.

MENTAL HEALTH and BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
In the same manner, “mental health” and “behavioral health” are related concepts but have differences in scope and emphasis.

For example, mental health focuses on the psychological and emotional well-being of an individual, encompassing a person’s thoughts, feelings, and overall mental state. Mental health issues can include conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mood or thought disorders. Treatment for mental health issues often involves counseling, medication, lifestyle changes, and various forms of psychological intervention.

Behavioral health, on the other hand, has a broader scope and includes not only mental health but also behavioral issues related to substance abuse and addiction, more specifically encompassing the way individuals act and the impact of their actions on their well-being. Behavioral health issues can involve addiction to substances, eating disorders, self-harm, and other behaviors that have a negative impact on a person’s health and life. Treatment for behavioral health issues typically includes a mix of counseling, medical intervention, and support services to address both the underlying behavioral problems and their consequences.

CONNECTING THE DOTS …

So, we can be specific about these three terms in a single sentence like this:

Mental health encompasses a person’s overall emotional and psychological well-being, mental illness refers to specific conditions or disorders that affect one’s mental state, and behavioral health pertains to the broader spectrum of actions and habits related to mental and emotional well-being.

Scotty