Mental Well-Being

On this page you will find information on mental well-being. When considering mental well-being it is very important to remember that we are never in a fixed place (ie. mentally well or mentally ill); rather, we are on a spectrum, or continuum, and will find ourselves at different places throughout our lives based on the various challenges and experiences we encounter. The image below will help to show the different levels on the spectrum:

It is important to remember that mental health and mental illness are not the same thing. As the diagram shows, anyone at any point in time can be somewhere between:

  • ‘good’ mental health while still having a mental illness (eg. having bipolar disorder and still able to feel good about themselves and the world around them)
  • ‘good’ mental health with no mental illness
  • poor mental health with no mental illness (eg. maybe you have been feeling sad after a breakup of fight with a loved one)
  • poor mental health with a mental illness (eg. clinical depression and having to seek medical help)

A key point to remember is that we will always find ourselves somewhere on this continuum based on the many factors in our lives and the choices we make on a daily basis. The following list presents some of the aspects that have a direct influence on our mental well-being:

  1. Self-esteem: belief about our worth and how we feel/see ourselves
  2. Self-efficacy: belief in our abilities to succeed in specific situations or tasks
  3. Connections and relationships with others and the world around us
  4. Stress levels: acute (in the moment) or chronic (ongoing stressors)
  5. Genetics
  6. Physical activity levels
  7. Nutritional choices and practices
  8. Sleep patterns
  • and more

For more information on what a mental illness is please read this information pamphlet from the Canadian Mental Health Association

Mental Well Being Videos

1. What is mental health? Part 1 (3:21)

2. Youth Mental Health Difficulties (2:52)

3. Morning exercise & activity for better mental well-being (2:12)

4. Personal testimonials (6:40)

5. What is Depression? (4:28)

6. What is Social Anxiety Disorder? (4:39)

7. What is Panic Disorder? (4:18)

8. What is Happiness? (3:57)

9. How to make stress your friend (14:29)

10. Definitions of Resilience (1:39)

11. Social Media and Teenage Self-Esteem (3:48)

12. What is Anxiety? (2:21)

13. Positive Self Talk (3:46)