Remember back in ancient history when people actually didn't think smoking was all that bad for them? Oh wait, that was just 50-60 years ago.

Well, remember back in ancient history when pretty much the only people who exercised were the athletes who had to?

That was just a generation ago, too, wasn't it?

Which may help us realize it's really not all that surprising that we don't recognize the work you have to put in on a regular basis to experience consistent mental wellness.

It's hard work, and it makes you strong. Just like physically working out. And the more you practice, the stronger—and luckier—you get.

Leading up to the global pandemic of 2020, we were already talking more and more about mental wellbeing. One of those factors had to do with the exacerbated impact of the rise of social media not ten years after the already unprecedented impact of the internet itself. A whole generation was experiencing a life of “in-screened reality.” We were also getting lots of neuroscience data to empirically corroborate what social scientists were already telling us (ie — all that stuff about cortisol and dopamine). Then, the collective trauma of the pandemic served to bring the discussion into an even more acute focus.

There has been growing awareness and discussion around the importance of mental health practices as a way of generating a general sense of wellness and wellbeing. From de-stigmatizing therapy to emphasizing self-care, the public discourse has increasingly recognized the critical role of our psychological wellbeing.

Mental Wellness

But first what exactly do we mean by mental wellness? And why would it be hard? How hard could it be to be mentally well?

The Global Wellness Institute defines mental wellness as:

“The active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health, happiness and well-being. Mental wellness is not just the absence of mental illness or distress, but a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a positive contribution to their community.”

The key points from this definition are:

• Mental wellness is an “active pursuit” — it involves taking intentional actions and making choices that support holistic health. It goes beyond just the absence of mental illness, but is a positive state of well-being. It encompasses realizing one’s own abilities, coping with life’s stresses, being productive, and contributing positively to one’s community.

• The focus is on overall health, happiness and well-being, not just the absence of mental health problems.

• Mental wellness as a multidimensional, active process of optimizing psychological, emotional, and social functioning — rather than just treating mental illness.

• Mental wellness is about far more than just symptom reduction or clinical treatment.

Sounds a lot like physical wellness. And it’s challenging because — among other things — it’s something that you need to maintain. So, then, is there much difference between mental wellness and mental health — two terms used pretty much interchangeably?

Let's take a look.

Mental Health: A Clinical Perspective

Mental health refers to a clinical state of being — the absence of mental illness or psychological disorders. As defined by the World Health Organization, mental health is “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to their community.”

This clinical framing of mental health is rooted in the medical model, which views psychological well-being through the lens of pathology and diagnosis. Mental health professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatrists, typically focus on identifying, treating, and managing mental health conditions, from depression and anxiety to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

A 2020 review in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology highlighted that the medical model has been instrumental in destigmatizing mental illness and expanding access to evidence-based treatments. However, it has also been critiqued for being overly reductive, failing to account for the nuances of human psychology and the social determinants of mental health.

About 15% of the population suffers from a substance abuse disorder or a mental health disorder. It has a place in working toward a more coherent and comprehensive series of reforms in the world of our health and wellbeing from a mental perspective. But this top-down approach is over-prescribed and there isn’t enough understanding or appreciation of a more well-rounded understanding of disorders and the positive and preventative side of our health.

Mental Wellness: A Holistic Approach

By contrast, mental wellness takes a more holistic, strengths-based approach. Rather than simply the absence of mental illness, mental wellness encompasses the presence of positive psychological attributes with a focus on thriving.

As explained in a 2021 article in the Journal of Happiness Studies, mental wellness is characterized by “self-acceptance, positive relationships, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth.” It involves cultivating a sense of meaning, resilience, and overall life satisfaction — not just the absence of psychological distress.

Importantly, mental wellness exists on a continuum. It is not a binary state of being “well” or “unwell.” A person can experience mental health challenges while still maintaining a sense of overall wellness, just as an individual with no diagnosable mental illness may still struggle with aspects of their psychological well-being.

A 2019 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that mental wellness is strongly associated with enhanced creativity, productivity, and social connection. Conversely, a lack of mental wellness has been linked to burnout, substance abuse, and other detrimental outcomes, even in the absence of clinical mental health conditions.

Bridging the Gap

While mental health and mental wellness are distinct concepts, they are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Optimal psychological well-being requires both the absence of mental illness and the presence of positive, life-enhancing factors.

As noted in a 2020 review in World Psychiatry, a holistic, integrated approach that addresses both clinical and wellness-oriented aspects of mental health is vital. This might involve a combination of evidence-based therapy, medication management, and intentional cultivation of personal growth, mindfulness, and social connection.

“We need to move beyond just treating mental illness and instead focus on empowering individuals to thrive,” argues Dr. Emma Seppala, a psychologist at Stanford University and author of The Happiness Track. “It’s about cultivating mental wellness — the ability to live a fulfilling, meaningful life, even in the face of challenges.”

This shift towards a more comprehensive, wellness-oriented model of mental health is already underway in various healthcare and educational settings. For example, a 2021 study in the Journal of American College Health found that college students who participated in a mindfulness-based wellness program experienced significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and overall life satisfaction.

Similarly, a 2020 review in the Annual Review of Public Health highlighted the growing number of workplace wellness initiatives that go beyond just managing mental health risks, and instead focus on building employees’ psychological resilience, social connectedness, and sense of purpose.

Even without massive political reforms, we will still slowly but surely continue to evolve in our understanding and appreciation of this critically important dimension in our lives.

Integrating Mental Health and Wellness

As the research makes clear, mental health and mental wellness are complementary, yet distinct, aspects of our overall psychological well-being. Moving forward, it will be crucial for policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to adopt a more holistic, integrated approach that addresses both clinical and wellness-oriented needs.

And as welcome as that is, the trends may simply continue. The information is out there. The evidence is in, and people are in need of ways to develop and sustain resilience practices in a stressful, technologically-dominant, meritocratic culture. Much in the same way the sheer evidence led to breakthroughs in the necessity for physical exercise, it may well be that culturally we’ll evolve to an understanding of mental wellness.

“We can no longer afford to view mental health as just the absence of mental illness,” says Dr. Seppala. “True psychological well-being requires nurturing all aspects of the human experience — our struggles and our strengths, our pain and our joy. It’s a lifelong journey, not a destination.”

By deeply understanding and honoring the nuances between mental health and mental wellness, we can work towards a future where all individuals are empowered to not just survive, but to truly thrive.

It’s hard, just like a physical workout is hard. You have to keep at it all your life and move into preventive care, not just addressing negative health issues as they arise like a Whac-a-Mole game.

And just like they say about aging, “It’s not for the faint of heart.”