Work

Mental illness, mental health, and mental well-being

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Mental health is sometimes understood as merely the absence of mental illness and sometimes more expansively as inclusive of a broader and more complete mental well-being. We present conceptual, empirical, and causal evidence for a distinction between the absence of mental illness and positive mental well-being. We discuss the implications for assessment, national tracking, research, policy, and mental healthcare. We argue for a greater clinical, policy, and public health attentiveness to positive mental well-being, to supplement work already being done on the treatment and prevention of mental illness.

Source: npj Mental Health Research

DOI: 10.1038/s44184-026-00193-7