View source for Graded Exercise as an Approach for Mental Health

== Definition ==
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”<ref>''World Health Organization. Promoting mental health: concepts, emerging evidence, practice (Summary Report). Geneva: World Health Organization, 2004.''</ref>. This definition represents a significant progress in overcoming the concept that mental health is the absence of mental illness. However, it’s may be confusing concerning the fact that positive feelings alone don’t identify mental health. People that are mentally healthy often feel sad, unwell, angry or desperate, and this is totally normal for human beings<ref name=":2">''Galderisi S, Heinz A, Kastrup M, Beezhold J, Sartorius N. Toward a new definition of mental health. World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):231-233.''</ref>. 

[https://physio-pedia.com/Mental_Health,_Physical_Activity_and_Physical_Therapy Mental health] consists of three components<ref>''Keyes CL. Mental health in adolescence: is America’s youth flourishing? Am J Orthopsychiatry 2006;76:395-402.'' </ref><ref>''Keyes CLM. Mental health as a complete state: how the salutogenic perspective completes the picture. In: Bauer GF, Hammig O (eds). Bridging occupational, organizational and public health. Dordrecht: Springer, 2014:179-92.''</ref>
* '''Emotional well-being''' (includes happiness, satisfaction)
* '''Psychological well-being''' (incudes taking responsibilities, being satisfied with one’s life)
* '''Social well-being''' (includes being part of the society, and contribute to the community)

According to a recent approach of the European Psychiatric Association:

“Mental health is a dynamic state of internal equilibrium which enables individuals to use their abilities in harmony with universal values of society. Basic cognitive and social skills; ability to recognize, express and modulate one’s own emotions, as well as empathize with others; flexibility and ability to cope with adverse life events and function in social roles; and harmonious relationship between body and mind represent important components of mental health which contribute, to varying degrees, to the state of internal equilibrium.”<ref name=":2" />