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My perspective of positive mental health is described as an individual who has the ability
to manage their positive and negative emotions as well as the ability to cope in stressful
situations. In order to comprehend what positive mental health is, you also need to understand
what positive mental health is not. There needs to be an understanding that positive mental
health is not only the lack of abnormal mental health issues. Of course every person can
construct their own definition of mental health. Whether someone has positive mental health or
not varies from different countries and different cultures. It can also be affected by many factors
such as the perspective on the way someone looks at the world around them, socioeconomic
status, genetic factors, and biological factors. What is considered healthy in one culture, maybe
unhealthy in a different culture. The definition of this simple word is not concrete because of the
varied perspectives that is placed on the definition. For example, depression is Western cultures
is characterized as sprouting from either mental or biological instabilities. On the contrary, in
non-Western cultures the mind and body are considered as one, not as two different entities
(Tsai, 2004). China for example, may use acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine as a
means of treatment, both of which we do not use here in Western cultures.
It is certainly possible for individuals who possess positive mental health to have a
chance of developing certain mental disorders based either on environmental factors, or
biological/genetic factors/paradigms, or even both. Certain illnesses like Alzheimer’s Disease,
Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression, and many more mental disorders can all be
genetic. In fact, those certain disorders can all be traced to the same genetic variations (Pedersen
2015). When looking at certain mental illnesses, it is possible to figure out what may have led to
this specific disorder, but the exact cause of mental illnesses is not known. It is, however, clear
that a combination of environmental, genetic, biological, and psychological factors can work
together as a cause of these disorders. The genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental
factors are all a part of the diathesis-stress paradigm.
Let’s take a look a bipolar disorder for example. Bipolar disorder is listed under mood
disorders in which the individual exhibits intense elation, irritability, sudden shifts in mood and
high activity levels. What exactly causes a person to show these kinds of behaviors and
emotions? Firstly, bipolar disorder can very well run in the family. Also, if one identical twin
has the disorder, then the other twin is more likely to develop the disorder them self compared to
any other sibling in the family. Brain chemicals such as norepinephrine and serotonin have been
linked to bipolar disorder as well as depression (WedMD, 2015). Studies that were done at
Stanford University have found that when one biological parent was diagnosed with bipolar
disorder, their child was 51% more likely to have a psychotic disorder whether it may be major
depression, ADHD, or bipolar disorder (WebMD, 2015). Along with genetic factors paying a
role, environment and lifestyle can also play a role. Children of bipolar parents are constantly
being surrounded by stress. Their parents could have severe mood swings. It is also typical of
some individuals who are diagnosed to be go through alcohol and substance abuse. These
constant stressors could play a role in triggering bipolar episodes in those who are genetically
predisposed (WebMD, 2015).
Bipolar disorder can be treated with medication such as Lithium, which is a mood
stabilizer, as well as antipsychotics (which unfortunately could have serious side effects) (Kring,
2015). Psychotherapy along with medication results in much better outcomes. IPT
(interpersonal therapy) helps people focus on relationships. Cognitive therapy, mindfulness-
based cognitive therapy (e.g., meditation), and behavioral activation therapy also aids in
reducing the behaviors of bipolar disorder).
Some mental disorders are more likely to arise early on in life, like during the time of
childhood. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), for example, is a disorder that
mostly emerges during childhood. Again, there is no single definitive cause for ADHD. A
parent who smokes during pregnancy, and maternal stress can cause low birth weight (Edwards,
2015). All these are risk factors for ADHD. The diagnosis varies based on different cultures and
communities. Different societies have different tolerance for behavior. So one society may not
define signs of ADHD the same way we do here in the United States. There is also an ongoing
debate of whether ADHD should be better understood as a cultural construct. Stimulant
medications can help reduce certain behaviors such as impulsivity, aggression, and other
disruptive behaviors (Kring, 2015). At the same time, it also improves the child with
concentration and interaction with others around them. Adding this medication to behavioral
therapy concluded with better results than if the medication was taken alone. Sometimes therapy
works, sometimes it does not. For some individuals, it doesn’t take much to develop a mental
