what influences mental wellbeing

• Wellbeing


  A state in which an individual is mentally, physically, and socially healthy and secure
• Mental wellbeing


  An individual's current state of mind, including their ability to think, process information, and regulate emotions
• Someone can be considered to have high or low levels of mental wellbeing depending on their ability to function and cope with everyday demands, their mood patterns, and the quality of their social connections
• Characteristics of high levels of mental wellbeing

  • A high level of functioning
  • Resilience to life stressors
  • Social and emotional wellbeing
• Mental wellbeing continuum


  • Mental health and wellbeing of an individual falls on a spectrum from high to low
  • Each person is at a unique point on the spectrum
  • This will change throughout their life depending on experiences and resilience
• Points on the continuum

  • High levels of mental wellbeing
  • Middle of the continuum
  • Low levels of mental wellbeing
• High levels of mental wellbeing

  • Able to function independently
  • Able to cope with everyday demands without excessive distress
  • May experience stress, sadness, and anger but can regulate emotions
• Middle of the continuum

  • Not functioning at an optimal level
  • Experiences temporary or moderate impact on mental wellbeing
  • Amplified emotions and high levels of stress
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • More likely to experience irrational thought patterns
• Low levels of mental wellbeing

  • Shows high levels of distress
  • Unable to independently complete tasks
  • Impacted for an extended period
  • May be diagnosed by a mental health professional
  • May be treated through psychotherapy or medication
• Internal factors


  Influences that originate inside or within a person
• External factors


  Factors that originate outside a person
• Types of factors influencing mental wellbeing

  • Internal factors
  • External factors
• Internal factors in the biopsychosocial model

  • Biological such as genetics and hormones
  • Psychological such as personality and coping skills
• External factors in the biopsychosocial model

  • Sociological factors such as interpersonal relationships
  • School and work-related factors
  • Level of income
• Biopsychosocial model


  • Many factors interact with each other
  • Each domain is given equal importance
  • Considered a holistic approach
  • Factors are interwoven and influence each other
• Stress


  A state of psychological and physiological tension resulting from internal/external factors perceived to challenge or threaten our ability to cope
• Stress is a normal part of life and is not necessarily a sign of low levels of mental wellbeing
• Eustress


  Positive feelings associated with stress
• Distress


  Negative feelings associated with stress
• When an individual does not feel as though they have adequate resources to cope with a stressor, it can lower their level of mental wellbeing
• Stress is usually in response to a known cause, which differentiates it from anxiety
• Adaptive stress


  • Can motivate people to take action
  • Such as preparing for a task instead of avoiding it
• Anxiety


  A psychological and physiological response involving feelings of worry and apprehension about a perceived threat
• Characteristics of anxiety


  • Typically involves negative feelings
  • Can be caused by a range of causes
  • Usually future oriented
  • Doesn't interrupt daily functioning
  • Excessive anxiety disrupts daily functioning and lowers mental wellbeing
• Phobia


  A persistent, intense, irrational fear of a specific object or event
• Specific phobia


  A type of diagnosable anxiety disorder characterised by excessive and disproportionate fear when encountering or anticipating a particular stimulus
• Characteristics of specific phobia

  • Going to great lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus
  • Significant disruption to daily functioning
  • Low levels of mental wellbeing when encountering or attempting to avoid the phobic stimulus
• People with a specific phobia are often aware that their fear and anxiety is disproportionate but are unable to control these feelings
• Phobic response


  • Activates the sympathetic nervous system
  • Physiological changes occur
• Level of functioning


  The degree to which an individual can complete day to day tasks in an independent and effective manner
• Levels of functioning


  • Daily living skills
  • Interpersonal relationships
  • Emotions
  • Cognitive skills
  • School and workplace settings
  • Leisure and recreational activities
• Levels of functioning


  • Low functioning
  • Moderate/partially impaired functioning
  • High functioning
• Low functioning


  • Sense of hopelessness
  • Feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day tasks
  • Unable to function effectively
• Moderate/partially impaired functioning


  • May feel overwhelmed at times
  • Draw on assistance to manage
  • Productivity is lowered
  • Moderate and temporary impairment
• High functioning


  • Approaches day-to-day tasks independently
  • Meets everyday demands
  • No impairment to functioning
• Low functioning


  Not being able to attend work for a considerable amount of time, impacting independence
• Moderate functioning


  Having to take temporary relief from work due to stress
• High functioning


  Taking a day off to recover but using abilities to overcome stress
• Independence is only relevant if an individual is physically or developmentally capable of completing the behaviour/tasks/activity
• Resilience


  The ability to successfully cope with and manage change and uncertainty