Understanding mental health for health and social care

The primary focus in health and social care has historically been on physical health and trying to heal physical health problems. However, we now know that having good mental health is very important to what we can do from day to day and our wider relationships with friends, family and the community we live in, which means that focusing on mental health is beneficial to health and social care practice. This chapter presents key issues for health and social care in relation to mental health. It outlines the current context of mental health, two key definitions of mental health, the importance of distinguishing between mental health, mental illness and mental disorder, key mental health legislation and diagnoses, and the significance of mental health stigma. The chapter concludes with a brief outline of key mental health treatments.