Understanding Wellness

Generally, wellness refers to our overall well-being and how healthy and happy we are. When people are unwell (e.g., experiencing serious mental illness), they may face preventable medical conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes more often than the general population. These conditions can also increase the risk of premature death. This is why wellness is important: it can help decrease these risk factors and improve both quality of life and longevity for people with behavioral health conditions.

Since wellness plays a pivotal role in our lives, what might mental wellness mean to us?

We can understand mental wellness as our ability to effectively cope with difficult situations and build resilience—not only to overcome challenges, but to thrive in life. By developing awareness and control of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, we can better care for our mental well-being.

Often, when we talk about mental wellness, we are actually referring to just one area of wellness that impacts our overall mental health. In reality, many factors affect our mental health beyond our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Here are eight areas of wellness and some examples that contribute to our overall well-being:

• Mental Wellness – coping with life stressors effectively and building resilience

• Physical Wellness – getting enough food, sleep, and exercise

• Emotional Wellness – identifying, experiencing, and regulating our emotions

• Spiritual Wellness – living according to our beliefs and values, whether religious, spiritual, or secular

• Social Wellness – staying connected with friends, family, and community

• Personal Wellness – engaging in our interests, joyful experiences, and fulfilling activities

• Professional Wellness – pursuing academic and/or career goals

• Medical Wellness – managing health conditions to reduce risks and stress

As you can see, there are many factors to consider. Some of these areas can be influenced by our schools, occupations, and relationships, which can, of course, be challenging. At the beginning of 2026, let’s take practical steps to improve our mental wellness by working on any of these eight areas. For example, in addition to learning coping skills for stressful situations (Mental Wellness), we can engage in new hobbies, creative activities, learn new skills, or engage in experiences that bring joy and fulfillment (Personal Wellness), or we could stay connected with friends and family, joining community groups or clubs, or reaching out to others for support and companionship (Social Wellness).

It is completely up to you to decide which area of wellness you would like to focus on and improve, and any step forward is already of great value! 

Don’t forget to reach out for resources and support to help you along the way.