The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This comprehensive definition puts together the different attributes of health for us and makes it clear that the concept of health extends beyond the popularly held notion of health being restricted to physical well-being. We can see that this definition of health includes other aspects as well, mental health being one of them.
Mental health deals with one’s psychological and emotional well-being. The ability of an individual to lead an independent life, maintain satisfying relationships, to handle usual day-to-day life stress, find a way out of usual difficult situations while having a sense of competence, are all indicators of good mental health. The current Unit focuses on this aspect. 
1.1 MENTAL HEALTH
In this section, we will define mental health and its importance in one’s life. We will study, why it is important to study mental health. Further, we will discuss various models of mental health. 
1.1.1 Definition of Mental Health
As described earlier, mental health refers to an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being. It can be defined as “a state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use her or his cognitive and emotional capabilities to function in society and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life”. It can also be defined as a state of successful performance of mental functions, in terms of thought, mood and behaviour. This state, in turn, results in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with others, the ability to adapt, to change and to cope with adversity.