Mental Health vs. Mental Illness: An Overview of Terminology By Dr.

Matthew Snapp In 1946, the United States passed the National Mental Health Act, the first legislation to provide significant federal funding for psychiatry research and treatment. At that point in history, the terms mental health and mental illness were used more or less interchangeably to discuss psychiatry and psychology. As the body of research on mental health and illness grew, researchers and policymakers began to seek more precise definitions of the two terms. One question they grappled with was whether mental health should be defined as simply the lack of mental illness. Ultimately, they decided that a definition of exclusion is insufficient to encompass the features of mental health. Today, The World Health Organization and the U.S. Surgeon General both recognize mental health as a state of wellbeing that encompasses emotional, social, and psychological factors. Mental illness, on the other hand, is defined by the presence of any condition listed in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-4). It is further defined by degree of illness present. About the Author: Austin, Texas-based psychologist Dr. Matthew Snapp currently maintains a private psychology practice in addition to a practice as an executive coach. In the past, he has given presentations on the evolution of mental health views in the U.S. and how Austin can improve its mental healthcare services.