Psychological Health: Definition, Examples, & How to Improve It

By Sukhman Rekhi, M.A.
​Reviewed by Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.

Interested in learning more about psychological health? Find out what can affect your psychological health and the services available to support you.

*This page may include affiliate links; that means we earn from qualifying purchases of products.

Life’s unique challenges undoubtedly affect us all differently. Maybe you’re going to college and struggling with leaving home for the first time. Perhaps you went through a tough time in life and used alcohol to numb the pain. Or, you dealt with family trauma as a child that led to anxious feelings and intrusive thoughts as an adult. 

Whether you’re going through life transitions, struggling with addiction, or just trying to quiet down your mind, no matter where you are in your mental health journey, thank you for being here. We know talking about your psychological health can sometimes be as difficult as dealing with the emotions and behaviors that may accompany psychological health concerns. In this article, we hope to not only give you information about how to better understand your psychological health and services that you may consider utilizing, but to also validate your journey. Let’s get started. 
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What Is Psychological Health? (A Definition)

The field of psychological health focuses on emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and social well-being. Like physical health, psychological health is an integral part of our overall holistic wellness. Healthy psychological well-being is not just the absence of signs of mental health issues or a diagnosis of a mental health disorder, but the presence of balanced emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. When our psychological state is unbalanced, we may have trouble with indecisiveness, managing our emotions, controlling our behaviors, interacting with others, and handling stress and other challenges (Galderisi et al., 2015).

Which Factors Are Most Relevant to Overall Psychological Health?
Now that we know psychological health is essential for our functioning and wellness as human beings, we can begin to understand which factors may be most important in determining our psychological health. Here are some factors that tend to be most relevant (Tew et al., 2012).

• Biological and Genetic Factors. Sometimes, the way our neurological functioning works is dependent on our genes. If there are issues with one’s brain chemistry, your familial genes could play a role. While we don’t have control over what genes get passed down to us, it is important information to be aware of if you decide to seek professional help for any psychological health concerns. 

 

• Family History and Childhood Experiences. The way we are raised and the conditions we grow up in can greatly affect our psychological development as we grow older. For example, if you grew up in an abusive environment, you may find that as an adult, you struggle with healthy self-esteem or interpersonal relationships. As a gentle reminder, as a child, you very rarely have autonomy over your living environment. So issues that may arise from families dealing with abuse or intergenerational trauma are not your fault. However, awareness of these issues could be beneficial as you try to better understand your psychological health. 

 

• Interpersonal Exchanges. Our environments outside of our family dynamic can play a large role in our health. Whether it’s your schooling, friendships, romantic partnerships, or coworkers, the interactions we have with other social circles can influence our psychological health as well.

 

• Social Determinants. Outside of our relationships with ourselves and the people in our lives, larger social issues can greatly affect our personal lives. Issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, and xenophobia (to name a few) often and unfortunately determine how people are treated in society on a structural level. Racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, and classist policies in particular disadvantage already vulnerable populations such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+ folks, people with disabilities, lower-income communities, and women—specifically, women of color. Policies such as redlining in housing, gerrymandering in voting, and wage gaps make these communities more susceptible to violence, discrimation, and poverty. Importantly, communities that are disadvantaged because of the structure of the sociopolitical system created by those who have historically held power in the United States, are also the same folks who are given the burden to fix these issues. All of these factors can harm psychological health even further (Allen et al., 2014; Rekhi, 2021). ​

Topics in Psychological Health

Because psychological health is multifaceted, several topics exist within the field. Here is a list of some issues that are covered under the umbrella term ‘psychological health’ (World Health Organization, 2004).

• Anxiety Disorders
• Depressive Moods & Major Depression Disorder
• Bipolar Disorders
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
• Eating Disorders 
• Personality Disorders
• Learning Disabilities
• Schizophrenia 
• Psychosis
• Alzheimer’s
• Intimate Partner Violence
• Domestic Abuse
• Sexual Assault 
• Suicide and Suicidal Ideation
• Grief and Bereavement
• Substance Abuse and Addiction
• Anger Management
• Chronic Illness
• School Concerns (e.g., bullying)
• Conflict Management
• Self-Esteem
• Self-Harm
• Phobias
• Marital Issues 
• Women’s Health
• Men’s Health
• Children’s Health
• LGBTQ Issues
• Racism and Racial Battle Fatigue
• Body Dysmorphia and Body Image
• Athlete’s Health and Injury
• Rehabilitation 
• HIV/AIDS
• Sexual Disorders
• Personal Growth
• Resilience 
• Disabilities 
• Communication
• Spirituality 

Did you read through all of those topics? That’s a big umbrella, huh? The takeaway here is that psychological health can be affected in a myriad of ways, whether it’s mental health concerns, physical health issues, life changes, personal development, community concerns, and/or political and social justice issues. This is the reason why a plethora of different professionals exist to support you through different threats to your psychological health.

Examples of Psychological Health Services and Professionals

Humans are complex creatures—each of us with our niche life experiences, realities, and struggles. Think of it this way. When you walk into a hospital, you see several different wings and floors. You’ll see signs pointing to the Emergency Room on the left and the Intensive Care Unit on the right. Maybe they redirect you to the elevator where you must choose different floor numbers to visit the cardiology, maternity, neurology, oncology, radiology, and orthopedics departments. Don’t forget about the pharmacy downstairs on your way out. 
Just as treatment services for physical health concerns remain aplenty, psychological health services are broad too.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of examples of various services and types of professionals working in mental health.
​

• Psychotherapy. Therapists who practice psychotherapy treat mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, addiction, and personality disorders. However, these professionals do not only help their clients manage diagnosed conditions, but can also support individuals going through life changes such as moving, going to college, getting married, stressful situations, grief and bereavement, and conflict resolution. Psychotherapists tend to use various forms of talk therapy and science-based treatment options such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Different types of psychotherapists include licensed mental health counselors, social workers, counseling psychologists, and clinical psychologists (Lambert, Bergin, & Garfield, 1994).

 

• Psychiatry. While psychotherapists practice a form of counseling, psychiatrists help support various mental health conditions through medication. Several mental health concerns such as depression, panic disorder, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, substance abuse, and bipolar disorder often use both counseling and medication methods to mitigate symptoms. Psychotherapists most often have their formal clinical and research education in master’s and PhD programs, while psychiatrists attend medical school (Kleinman, 2008). 

 

• Marriage and Family Therapy. Similar to psychotherapists, practitioners of marriage and family therapy use counseling primarily for working with people who may be dealing with family issues (e.g., tense parent-child dynamics), spousal concerns (e.g., poor communication), and overall relationship changes (e.g., marriage or divorce). Therapy is often offered for individuals as well as for couples and families (Broderick & Schrader, 1991). 

 

• Social Work. Social workers have some commonalities with psychotherapists in their training. However, a big component of social work also includes advocacy of psychological health and social concerns. When they are not providing therapy to their client, many social workers may also be involved with reducing mental health stigma, advocating for psychological health policy changes (e.g., more access to services in lower income communities), and promoting social, cultural, and economic civil rights (Adams, 2003).

 

• School Psychology. School psychologists support the psychological health of students. These practitioners are often available in school settings as early as preschool to assist students with developmental concerns, learning challenges, and behavioral issues. Their goal is to not only support mental health, but improve student-teacher dynamics and promote academic achievement for all types of student learners (Fagan & Wise, 2000). 

 

• Additional Services. Other types of psychological health services that may be available include substance abuse counselors, suicide prevention hotlines, crisis counselors, group therapy, peer educators and specialists, and telehealth or mobile apps for therapy. ​

Video: How to Achieve Better Psychological Health

Most of us struggle with psychological health concerns from time to time. If you are here to learn how to improve your psychological well-being, here is an excellent video to watch. In this TED Talk, psychologist Dan Banos discusses eight different ways to better your psychological health.

Quotes on Psychological Health

Famous words from others can help inspire us, make us ponder, and sometimes even question unhelpful thoughts. Here are some quotes about psychological health to get your mind churning:

• "Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going." - Noam Shpancer

 

• “Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You’re doing just fine.” - Charlotte Eriksson

 

• "You don’t have to be positive all the time. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared and anxious. Having feelings doesn’t make you a negative person. It makes you human." - Lori Deschene

 

• "The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." - Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

 

• “Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health.” - Lauren Fogel Mersy

 

• “Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you, doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” - Lisa Olivera

 

• “One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn’t fall apart.” — Linda Poindexter

 

• “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” - John Green

Any Harry Potter fans out there? This one’s just for you.

• “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” - Albus Dumbledore

Articles Related to Psychological Health

​Want to learn more? Check out these articles:

• Emotional Health: Definition + 19 Tips​
• Quality of Life: Definition, Measures, and Examples​
• Positive Psychology: Definition, Theories, and Examples
• ​Definition of Psychology: Types, Concepts, & Examples
  

Books Related to Psychological Health​

If you’d like to keep learning more, here are a few books that you might be interested in.
​

• Well: What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Health by Sandro Galea
• It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Besser van der Kolk
• Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
• Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind by Judson Brewer
• The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help you Deserve by Rheeda Walker
• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz
• Self-Love Workbook for Women: Release Self-Doubt, Build Self-Compassion, and Embrace Who You Are by Megan Logan
• Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven

Final Thoughts on Psychological Health

Let’s recap. In this article, we defined what psychological health is, which factors can impact your mental well-being, the different topics the umbrella of psychological health covers, and various services and professionals that may be available to help you work through any challenges. We hope that this was useful as you continue learning how to support yourself on your mental health journey. ​

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References

• ​Adams, R. (2003). Social work and empowerment.
• Allen, J., Balfour, R., Bell, R., & Marmot, M. (2014). Social determinants of mental health. International review of psychiatry, 26(4), 392-407.
• Broderick, C. B., & Schrader, S. S. (1991). The history of professional marriage and family therapy. Handbook of family therapy, 2, 3-40.
• Fagan, T. K., & Wise, P. S. (2000). School psychology: Past, present, and future. NASP Publications, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814.
• Galderisi, S., Heinz, A., Kastrup, M., Beezhold, J., & Sartorius, N. (2015). Toward a new definition of mental health. World psychiatry, 14(2), 231.
• Kleinman, A. (2008). Rethinking psychiatry. Simon and Schuster.
• Lambert, M. J., Bergin, A. E., & Garfield, S. L. (1994). The effectiveness of psychotherapy. Encyclopedia of psychotherapy, 1, 709-714. 
• Rekhi, S. (2021). Black and Brown Death: Understanding Neoliberal Influences during the Modern Plague (Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Long Beach).
• Tew, J., Ramon, S., Slade, M., Bird, V., Melton, J., & Le Boutillier, C. (2012). Social factors and recovery from mental health difficulties: a review of the evidence. The British Journal of Social Work, 42(3), 443-460.
• World Health Organization. (2004). Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice: Summary report. World Health Organization.

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