i think, and i mean i think, mental health is just a name for an over-all scope of the field. mental illness describes a sub catagory of mental health! or maybe idk crap

(From google)

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.

Mental Health...

involves effective functioning in daily activities resulting in

Productive activities (work, school, caregiving)
Healthy relationships
Ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity

Mental Illness...

refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders — health conditions involving

Significant changes in thinking, emotion and/or behavior
Distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities

Mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience and self-esteem. Mental health is also key to relationships, personal and emotional well-being and contributing to community or society.

Hi here,
Lol. I think there is a difference. Italianmomma

Hi LavenderC,
That's a good explanation. So can we have one without the other? If you have anxiety can you still have good mental health? Hmmmmm. Italianmomma

Italianmomma - More from google

"Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors"

I think anxiety is one of the symptoms of mental illness. If we have clinical anxiety, we probably don't have good mental health or we can have mild mental health issue (?)..

In the medical field, mental health is listed as part of the general health evaluation form.

A patient was evaluated as having good mental health in specific areas, and needing evaluation in other areas.

Mental illness and mental health are not the same. Anxiety is a mental illness issue. I don't know how that would effect our mental health. Since mental health effects how we think, feel and act. Our emotions, psychological, and social-well being. So can we still be healthy with both? Or does one effect the other?

Hi Mid,
I understand that. But my question is What are the differences between mental health and mental illness?
Because they are different and play different roles in people lifes. Thanks. Italianmomma

Hey Mid,
I just wanted to ask you one more thing. Do you think mental illness can take a toll on your mental health?
Italianmomma

I feel safe to use my physical analogy on this one. Same as the diffs between physical health and physical illness. Health is a generalized analysis with a great many variables of varying quantity and quality. Illness is a quantified analysis of oopsie doopsie.

Similar to how a heart condition can amplify the lethal potentials a common cold, a psycho snot knot can amplify the effects of other emotional/mental stresses.

Just a just-a-patient theory. Don't accuse me of experting. . .

Hi Arfie,
I think that was a great way of explaining health vs. illness. I just wonder if you are in good mental health are you in good mental illness. Or can the mental illness make your mental health sick? Does it play a role on your wellbeing? Can mental illness effect your mental health? I'm not an expert either otherwise I wouldn't be asking. Lol

One of my favorite theorists on the p's and q's of that puzzle was a diabetes sufferer who also had the health of an athlete. The man was a well-oiled machine, but he still checked his blood sugar levels meticulously.

Physical, mental and/or spiritual, health, illness and wellness be a complex weave which is all connected and in continual motion. I believe objective observation is a far better balancing tool than knowledge.

Hi Arfie,
Thanks for your input. You always have a way of putting things in perspective. And what you said makes a lot of sense. And I too know people that eat good and exercise and they still have cholesterol problems. Thanks again. Have a good night. Italianmomma❤️

Italianmomma -

"if you are in good mental health are you in good mental illness"

- I don't think there is "good mental illness." Usually if you have mental illness, you don't have good mental health. Some mental illness's are more severe than others. If you are in good mental health, you don't have mental illness.

can the mental illness make your mental health sick?

- Yes. Sick mental health = mental illness

Can mental illness effect your mental health?

- Yes. Mental illness = poor mental health

Hi LavenderC,
People may experience poor mental health without a mental illness. It's also possible to experience good mental health even with a mental illness. Mental illness can be episodic, meaning there are times of ill health and times of good health. Hope that makes sense. I think either way it's a no win situation. I have anxiety and I pray a lot. It seems to help me stay calm and grounded. I thank God for that. Take care and God bless. Italianmomma