Why Are We Reluctant to Use the Term Mental Illness?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It therefore seems logical to me that we need to be aware of why we seem to be reluctant to use the term mental illness.
In part due to the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, there is a lot of attention being focused on the issue of mental health today, especially in workplaces. But when we actually look closely at the attention mental health is receiving, we see it is really about mental illness and not mental health. While the pandemic has done a number on the human psyche, we know from the data that the human psyche was already suffering before the pandemic. The pandemic only exacerbated an issue which was already present.
We know from the research that mental health and mental illness, while related, are actually two different, separate concepts, each with its own spectrum and continuum. Yet, more often than not, when the term mental health is used today, it is commonly used as a proxy term or synonym for mental illness.
In my mind, this raises the question of why are we so reluctant to use the term mental illness when we are talking about mental ill-health, mental disorders or mental illness? When we are talking about mental illness, why do we use the term mental health?
Yes, mental health can be used as a global term or an umbrella like term to encompass mental wellness (AKA mental wellbeing and positive mental health), psychological/psychosocial stress and mental illness, but mental health is generally not used in this way.
I would offer that the term mental health is used because it is a nicer, softer way of talking about mental illness. For a number of reasons, the term mental illness comes with stigmas attached. Using the term mental health is less likely to invoke the stigmas attached to mental illness.
But the problem is that if we continue to substitute mental health for mental illness, I feel we will continue to focus only on mental illness and not shine the light on mental health and psychological/psychosocial distress as much as we need to. Mental health needs as much attention as does mental illness. The issue is not mental health versus mental illness, but rather mental health and mental illness as both need equal attention.
I use the term mental health to mean a broad or umbrella like concept. Used this way, the opportunity is created to address mental health comprehensively. A comprehensive approach to mental health involves promoting mental wellness, preventing mental illness and supporting treatment for mental illness should it develop.
One approach is not more important than another. All three approaches are necessary if, as a society, or as an employer, we sincerely want to truly effectively and successfully address mental health.
Since everyone experiences some level of mental health, I can’t imagine in any way why we would not want to take a comprehensive approach to mental health.
Can you?
