The difference between mental and psychological wellbeing

A question people don’t ask is “what is the difference between mental and psychological wellbeing”! Well, let’s answer that.

My name is Oluwafunke Ajoba, I am building up my space as an Experimental Social Psychologist in our world, it’s a tough, but good niche. And it answers questions like this.

Mental wellbeing is a right now thing, psychology wellness is the depth of it.

Mental wellness answers questions related to the state of your mind and how function on a daily basis. Like, how you cope with stress, deal with your environment and handle exhaustion before they convert to something else.  Mental health is often influenced by stress, workload, fatigue, sleep quality.

Psychological wellbeing is identity, beliefs, values and unresolved problems that might influence your functionality and show up in your day-to-day life such that it influences your ability to live a fulfilling life.

It’s buried in upbringing, experiences that had shaped you, trauma, life experiences. 

Let’s put it this way:

Mental wellbeing = capacity to function.

Psychological wellbeing = depth of emotional and inner health.

You can have:

Good mental wellbeing but poor psychological wellbeing

(high-functioning, successful, but emotionally wounded)

Poor mental wellbeing but strong psychological awareness

(emotionally aware but currently overwhelmed).

We’d break down reasons for this in later time. For now, let me know if you have clarity on what mental wellbeing is and how it differs from psychology wellbeing; the goal is that when you say “I am mentally stressed” you have an understanding of what you really mean.

We will get there!