Mental Health Surveillance

Synonyms

Mental illness monitoring or tracking; Mental illness surveillance; Mental illness (mental health surveys); Population health monitoring or tracking

Definition

According to the World Health Organization, “mental health represents a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his/her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to the community.” Mental health is not merely the absence of mental illness; mental health and mental illness represent distinct constructs. However, reflecting perceived stigmatization, mental health is commonly used rather than mental illness.

Mental illness comprises conditions affecting cognition, mood, or behavior associated with distress or impaired functioning. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) classification system separates mental illnesses into categories based on symptoms observed by a health professional or reported by the patient; these...