Mental Health and Behavioral Health: What’s the difference?
Today, the public is more aware of the importance and necessity of behavioral and mental health treatment and stability. However, the information is still skewed by many misconceptions, which include both terms of mental health and behavioral health being used interchangeably a lot of times. Many people mix these terms, believing that they are one and could be substituted with one another; however, the reality is that both terms are distinct from one another and require a distinct approach to care, and require different types of counseling and treatment. What is important to know first is that both terms are closely connected and impact each other directly.
Mental Health Definition and Some Common Mental Health Conditions
Mental health is specifically concerned with an individual’s psychological, emotional, and cognitive health. It affects how people perceive and feel, as well as how they behave, and affects how they deal with anxiety, interact with others, and make choices.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Mental well-being refers to “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and can contribute to their community.”
A few of the most common mental health problems that are commonly confronted by the world’s population and that affect the vast majority of people worldwide are:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- The post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
These ailments can arise due to a myriad of causes, such as the brain’s chemical imbalance, genetics, as well as past traumas or life events etc.
Defining Behavioral Health: Definition and Some Common Behavioral Health Concerns
Behavioral health is a broad term that encompasses mental health, but also includes the way that behaviors affect overall well-being. It is focused on how routine decisions, actions, and other choices impact physical and mental well-being.
In simple terms, Behavioral Health establishes a link between behavior and health, which affects a range of moderate and everyday aspects of the life of individuals, such as eating habits, routines for exercise, substance usage, coping strategies, such as lifestyle patterns, etc.
A few of the most frequent behavioural health issues that are documented and observed in people across the world include:
- Substance abuse
- Addiction to gambling
- Eating disorders
- Dependence on alcohol or smoking
- Compulsions and behaviors
- Inability to adhere to medical treatment
Key Differences Between Mental Health and Behavioral Health
Focus
Mental Health
Mental health is mostly concerned with the psychological, emotional, and cognitive well-being of a person and usually begins with an open dialogue between the doctor and patient to discover what the patient does and thinks in specific situations, and their response to questions.
Behavioral Health
Behavioral health focuses on the small ways of living that affect the physical and social lives of the patient, and even the mental well-being of.
Conditions Included
Mental Health
It covers the treatment of ailments such as depression. Social anxiety, anxiety, excessive thinking, etc.
Behavioral Health
It covers the treatment of behavioral issues like eating disorders, addiction to substances and lifestyle choices, for example.
Treatment Approaches
Mental Health
The doctor first looks at options for treatment like open-talk counseling, therapy using medications to manage symptoms and bring peace and peace, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), etc.
Behavioral Health
Treatment for Behavioral Health Issues begins with Behavioral Therapy and Lifestyle coaching, addiction therapy, etc.
Why the Distinction Matters
Better Diagnosis and Treatment
Knowing the difference helps healthcare professionals design more customized and efficient treatment strategies. Someone suffering from an anxiety disorder might require medication and therapy, while someone suffering from addictions to alcohol or drugs may require treatment for their behavior and habit restructuring.
Holistic Approach to Health
Being aware of the importance of mental health as a broad concept encourages a holistic approach. It assists professionals in identifying unhealthy patterns, like poor eating habits or excessive use of substances, that may be causing an existing mental health problem or physical ailments.
Policy and Insurance Clarity
In the field of healthcare policies as well as insurance policies, precise definitions could influence coverage, funding, and accessibility to services. Services for behavioral health may comprise services that aren’t typically defined as “mental health,” such as quitting smoking or nutritional counseling.
Reducing Stigma
Understanding that mental and behavioral health are inextricably linked, we can help decrease the stigma surrounding both. Being aware that someone’s actions could be a result of emotional issues encourages empathy and acceptance instead of judging.
One doctor who can help assist you in the event of any mental health or problems with behavioral health problems or imbalance that may be affecting your overall health and quality of life is called a general practitioner for mental health (GP). In the event of any problems with mental and behavioral health, you should first consult the services of a mental health GP, near an emergency medical professional in the event of a physical injury.