The Interrelationship of Positive Mental and Physical Health: A Health Promoting Approach

Holistic concepts of health are basic to indigenous beliefs on the nature of health and well-being. The relationship between physical and mental health and between the social, biological and psychological determinants of these positive states is complex. Similar nature of complex relationships has been established physical illness and mental illness. A complex mix of psychological, social and physiological processes is involved in the onset and course of illness.Also, spiritual, environmental, physical, social and emotional factors are found interacting with influencing each other in complex ways. Positive psychology implies that if people are taught to be resilient and optimistic they will be less likely to suffer from depression and problems. This psychology also deals with personal hopefulness, associated with better adjustment to mental and physical illness and to major life stressors. Mental health as social and emotional intelligence highlights the capacity to recognize and respond appropriately to the emotions of the self and others. It also encompasses the concept of happiness as it relates to joy, love, self-efficacy, play and deep involvement rather than happiness as an illusionary high. The sense of mental well-being generated by physical exercise and the sense of achievement generated by physical actions to achieve certain goals are positive interactive processes between these two domains. Thus, these interrelationships of mental health can potentially improve physical health and the outcomes of physical and mental illnesses.