The difference between mental health and psychological health

The Difference Between Mental and Psychological Health

It is important to clarify that there is no difference between mental health and psychological health.
We can define mental health (also referred to as psychological health) as a state that is achieved when the following aspects are healthy and sound:

• Emotional health: These are the emotions and feelings that a person experiences daily, along with the actions they take to maintain their well-being and emotional balance.

• Social health: This refers to the ways in which a person interacts with others and maintains healthy relationships.

• Behavioral health: This involves a person’s behavior, including how they act and react.

Factors That Help Promote Mental Health

Committing to the following steps helps enhance mental health:

• Practicing meditation:
  Meditation plays a major role in promoting mental health. We recommend downloading the Tawazon app to benefit from its collection of meditations and podcasts, and to learn more about different types of meditation.
  The most prominent benefits of meditation for mental health include:

  • Reducing psychological stress

  • Controlling anxiety symptoms

  • Enhancing emotional well-being

  • Improving self-awareness and understanding

• Prioritizing face-to-face social relationships:
  While phone and other digital communication methods offer some benefits for mental health, face-to-face interactions provide greater benefits. Therefore, they should be a priority.

• Exercising:
  Physical movement provides major mental health benefits, especially in:

  • Sleep quality

  • Memory sharpness

  • Stress resilience

  • Emotional health

• Eating healthy food:
  Nutrition plays an important role in improving mental (or psychological) health — as we clarified, both terms are interchangeable.
  The most important foods that boost this type of health include:

  • Fatty fish

  • Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, and peanuts

  • Dark leafy vegetables like spinach and kale

  • Fresh fruits of all types

• Getting enough sleep:
  Sleep has a significant impact on mental health. One should ensure getting quality sleep.
  Helpful tips include avoiding exposure to phone and device screens before sleeping, and instead engaging in relaxing activities like reading.

• Seeking help when needed:
  If you’re suffering from a psychological issue — especially if it’s severe or negatively affecting your ability to fulfill daily or professional duties — you should consult a psychologist or psychiatrist to restore your mental health with the appropriate treatment based on your condition.

Factors Affecting Mental Health

After clarifying that there is no difference between mental and psychological health — both terms carry the same meaning — we move on to discuss the most prominent factors that affect mental health. These include:

• Genetics

• Family history

• Childhood experiences

• Social relationships