Well-being relies on physical, mental and emotional health (2024)

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Quick facts

  • The strains of the economy, family and health can make ithard for those working in agriculture.
  • Physical health includes getting enough sleep at night, eating balanced meals and staying active.
  • Mental health refers to your ability to process information.
  • Emotional health is how you express feelings based on the information you have processed.

Many farmers across the country have feltthe strain of low commodity prices, high debt loads and high interest rates. The ups and downs of the agricultural economy often burdensfarmerswith a long list of stressors.

Now more than ever, it is critical that we think about and discussthe need for mental well-being in farming and across agriculture as a whole.

Balancing physical, mental and emotional health

Think of you and your overall well-being as a three-legged stool. The seat represents you and the legs represent your physical, mental and emotional health.

  • Physical health is the general well-being of your body: sleeping 7-9 hours each night, eating balanced meals and snacks and being active.
  • Mental health and emotional health can be a little tricky to tell apart but think of them as a tag team. Mental health refers to your ability to process information.
  • Emotional health refers to your ability to express feelings that are based upon the information you have processed.

We need to attend to all three legs equally in order to ensure we are properly supported. If you neglect one area, imagine cutting an inch off of one of the legs. You’ll still be upright, but it will be uncomfortable and more difficult to support.

Mental health vs. mental illness

It is important to understand the differences betweenmental health and mental illness. As we have learned more about our brains, we have shifted from an old narrative that mental illness is a character flaw and that mental health was optional. The new narrative focuses on the interconnectedness of mental, physical and emotional health and the ways our mental health is impacted by fear, trauma, chronic stress and where we live, learn, work and play.

Mental health and mental illness are two separate phenomena, but they do intersect. It’s possible to have a mental illness and still be mentally healthy by managing your symptoms and practicing self-care.

Find more support for farmers and mental health resources.

Author: Emily Krekelberg, Extension farm safety and health educator

Reviewed in 2021

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Well-being relies on physical, mental and emotional health (2024)

FAQs

Well-being relies on physical, mental and emotional health? ›

Wellbeing is not just the absence of disease or illness. It's a complex combination of a person's physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction. In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life.

What does mental health and well-being depend on? ›

Social and financial circ*mstances, adverse childhood experiences, biological factors, and underlying medical conditions can all shape a person's mental well-being. Many people with a mental health disorder have more than one condition at the same time.

What is mental physical and emotional wellness? ›

Physical health includes getting enough sleep at night, eating balanced meals and staying active. Mental health refers to your ability to process information. Emotional health is how you express feelings based on the information you have processed.

What is the word for physical and mental wellbeing? ›

Wellness, however, is much more than physical health. Wellness is a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

What does well-being depend on? ›

Wellness comprises of eight mutually co-dependence dimensions: emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial. If any one of these dimensions is neglected over time, it will adversely affect one's health, well-being, and quality of life.

Why is mental health an important part of well-being? ›

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

How do you describe well-being? ›

Well-being is the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress. More generally, well-being is just feeling well (Take this quiz to discover your level of well-being.)

What are the 5 aspects of physical and mental wellness? ›

There are five (5) dimensions of health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social. These five (5) dimensions of health provide a full picture of health as a change in any dimension affects the others.

What is the state of mental and physical well-being? ›

The WHO constitution states: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." An important implication of this definition is that mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.

What are the 5 C's of wellbeing? ›

Unlocking the 5 C's of Well-Being: Contentment, Calmness, Compassion, Courage, and Clarity. The five qualities of Contentment, Calmness, Compassion, Courage and Clarity are innate to human nature. As children we exhibit these qualities , but as we grow up these get covered up by our environmental conditioning.

What are the 4 pillars of a healthy lifestyle? ›

Nutrition, Exercise, Relaxation, Sleep. These pillars work together to keep your mind and body healthy. Nutrition. A healthy diet promotes bacteria in the gut that helps “feel good” signals get through to the brain.

What are the four pillars of mental health? ›

Social interaction, emotional regulation and cognitive and physical fitness are key components and pillars of mental health. When you care for each of the pillars, you can experience improved moods and well-being.

What is an overall state of well-being? ›

Wellbeing is not just the absence of disease or illness. It's a complex combination of a person's physical, mental, emotional and social health factors. Wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction. In short, wellbeing could be described as how you feel about yourself and your life.

What do you call a state of complete emotional and physical wellbeing? ›

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'.

What is physical and emotional wellbeing? ›

Emotional well-being is how well people are able to process their emotions and cope with life challenges. Managing stress, fostering positive social connections, and taking care of physical and mental health may all help individuals maintain good emotional well-being.

What does mental health depend on? ›

Psychological factors, e.g. beliefs, mental health diagnoses, perception, addictions. Social factors, e.g. relationships, family, culture, work, money, housing.

What are the main determinants of mental health & well-being? ›

These structural conditions include factors such as income, employment, socioeconomic status, education, food security, housing, social support, discrimination, childhood adversity, as well as the neighbourhood social and physical conditions in which people live, and the ability to access acceptable and affordable ...

How are mental health and wellbeing linked? ›

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as 'a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community'.

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