How Do You Define It?

Mental health is a broad subject emcompassing many things with many misconceptions and generalizations. I asked people on campus today: How do you define mental health / illness?

The first person who probably thought I had mental health issues when I approached him said, "I gues mental disorders like ADD, schizophrenia, bipolar...anythingthat means your mind is different than it's supposed to be."

-Michael Ahlfeldt
Undecided Major
Class of 2015
York, PA

I asked one of our librarians the same question; he resopnded with a somewhat puzzeled face, [Well] psychiatry and anti-depressants are the first two things I think of."

-Charles Courtney
Library Technician, FSU Library

The last person I approached gave a much broader and detailed response, "[I think of] depression, bipolar, anxiety, insomnia. Good mental health or bad mental health. Good being well-rounded, healthy; because if you have a better idea of how your physical and emotional should be. Bad also affects [all of this too]."

-Benjamin McCrary
English Major
Class of 2013
Lakeville, Minnesota

These answers all centered around many things that we commonly associate with mental health. According to the surgeon general, "Mental health is a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity. Mental health is indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contribution to community or society."

For the full article from the surgeon general, check out the link below.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter1/sec1.html#mental_points