The Mental Health Continuum Model is a framework that describes mental health as a range of states, rather than a binary concept of "healthy" or "unhealthy." The continuum ranges from optimal mental health to severe mental illness.
The five stages of the model are:
1) Optimal Mental Health: characterized by a sense of well-being, resilience, and the ability to cope with life's challenges.
2) Mild Mental Illness: characterized by mild symptoms such as anxiety or depression that do not significantly impair daily functioning.
3) Moderate Mental Illness: characterized by moderate symptoms that may impair daily functioning but do not prevent self-care.
4) Severe Mental Illness: characterized by severe symptoms that prevent self-care and may require hospitalization.
5) Recovery: characterized by a reduction or remission of symptoms and an improvement in overall functioning.
This model recognizes that mental health is not a static state, and that individuals can move along the continuum over time. It also emphasizes the importance of early intervention and support in preventing the progression of mental illness.
Simon Harrison at Mind and Therapy
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