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Published on: May 19, 2015
MENTAL HEALTH: THE SEARCH FOR A DEFINITION
Canadian Medical Association Journal
|May 16, 1964
Summary
Defining mental health objectively is challenging due to pervasive value judgments in literature. True mental health may stem from self-insight and honest self-acceptance, moving beyond societal ideals.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Philosophy of Health
Background:
- The concept of mental health lacks a universally accepted, objective definition.
- Value judgments are prevalent in existing mental health literature, hindering objective analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine attempts at defining mental health.
- To explore the impact of value judgments on mental health definitions.
- To propose a conceptual understanding of mental health.
Main Methods:
- Critical analysis of existing mental health literature.
- Conceptual examination of definitions and criteria for mental health.
- Discussion of the interplay between morality, behavior, and responsibility in health.
Main Results:
- Value judgments impede the development of objective and universally applicable definitions of mental health.
- Current definitions are often conceptual rather than technical or scientific.
- Multiple criteria are necessary for a refined concept of mental health.
Conclusions:
- Defining mental health is complicated by subjective values and societal ideals.
- A proposed conceptualization of mental health involves personal insight and self-acceptance.
- Distinguishing between conceptual and scientific propositions is crucial in mental health discourse.
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