The important link between mental health and wellbeing

Your mental health and wellbeing are deeply linked, shaping how you feel, function and enjoy everyday life.

It’s easy to think of health as being mostly about the body. And sure, eating your veggies, getting some exercise and booking that annual check-up are all important, but health is much more than that.

Health and wellbeing cover the whole picture: your body, your mind and the way you connect with others. Mental health is a big part of this picture and has a direct influence on your overall sense of wellbeing.

The relationship between mental health and wellbeing

Mental health is how we think, feel and behave. It’s about our ability to manage stress, form relationships, and even make decisions. Wellbeing is broader, and we can talk about it as how mentally, physically and emotionally good we feel.

Good mental health supports wellbeing by giving us resilience, focus and energy. Similarly, strong wellbeing helps to protect mental health, creating a positive cycle. As the World Health Organization says, there is ‘no health without mental health’.

Research shows that people with a mental health problem are more likely to have a preventable physical health condition such as heart disease.

Factors influencing mental health and wellbeing

There are so many influences on mental health and wellbeing, some within our control and others not. Understanding them can help us see how different areas of life connect.

• Biological and environmental factors: Genetics, brain chemistry and life events all play a role. For instance, a family history of, say, depression can increase your risk of having depression, while traumatic experiences or chronic illness can also affect both health and wellbeing.
• Social and cultural influences: The relationships we form, the communities we belong to, and the cultural values we live by all shape mental health. A strong sense of belonging and supportive networks tend to improve wellbeing, while discrimination or social isolation can have the opposite effect.
• Lifestyle choices: Sleep, nutrition, exercise and how we handle stress are everyday factors with a big impact. Regular physical activity, for example, is proven to boost mood and reduce anxiety, showing how physical health is linked with emotional wellbeing.

When one of these areas is out of balance, it can ripple across the others. For example, a stressful work environment can affect sleep, which then impacts mood, energy and overall wellness. A bad diet can reduce your energy to exercise, which can impact your mood.

Recognising these connections helps us take a more holistic view of health and wellbeing.

A holistic approach to health

This is where education becomes a really useful tool. The Diploma of Health and Wellbeing (accredited by Torrens University) takes a holistic approach to health, covering the physical, mental and social dimensions that make up our wellbeing and health.

Through this course, you’ll learn how to understand the drivers of mental health and recognise how they connect to broader wellbeing. Subjects explore nutrition, psychology, public health and lifestyle practices, giving you the tools to support both your own health and that of others.

The course also highlights practical skills, such as learning how to promote healthier environments in workplaces or communities, or how to encourage individuals to balance mental health with physical health. By building this knowledge, you can make a real difference in improving the wellness of people around you.

Mental health and wellbeing are two sides of the same coin. You can’t have one without the other, and both are influenced by a range of personal, social and environmental factors. By understanding how they interact, you can better support yourself and others to live healthier, more balanced lives.

If you’re interested in exploring this connection further and developing the skills to improve mental health and wellbeing in real-world settings, the Diploma of Health and Wellbeing offers a practical pathway into the field.