Does mental wellbeing protect us from mental illness?
9th October 2014
The premise of “if I do things that make me happier I am less likely to experience mental health difficulties” has been the thought behind many projects set up to promote mental wellbeing. In fact projects such as Mindapples and Action for Happiness are good examples of such projects aimed at providing preventative strategies to people in a bid to reduce the likelihood of experiencing mental health difficulties. But how successful are they?
Andy Gibson, the creator of Mindapples, argues that mental health is “too personal” and strongly believes those suffering with mental health issues should be supported to think of their own solutions to improve mental resilience. He feels that public health campaigns seem to tell people how to live their lives and adds that evidence for pharmaceutical intervention to improve wellbeing points to being unsuccessful.
Despite the government office for science publishing their results from a foresight review in 2008, claiming that if everyone took more care of their mental health fewer would develop mental health difficulties, stern opposition from the chief medical officer for England was received. Dame Sally Davies report concluded that there is no evidence that promoting mental wellbeing programmes has any effect on mental illness and described that suggesting anything otherwise was a “leap of faith”. Furthermore, with the lack of evidence Davies also advised against financial aid for mental wellbeing promotion coming out of funds used for the treatment of mental health.
The report, for those in the public mental health service, felt like a return to a reactive solution and prioritising medical models for reducing mental health over preventative measures. Whilst it is acknowledged there will be some people suffering with mental health difficulties who perhaps find the concept of improving ones mental wellbeing as whimsical and be relieved with the continued emphasis on medication and therapies for treatment, others may feel short changed. One would argue there must be a significant benefit in empowering people to have more positive experiences and fulfilling lives with regards to reducing the prominence of mental health difficulties as a preventative strategy. Ultimately more evidence is required before a more confident and resolute answer around the effects of promoting wellbeing can be given.
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