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How do we define mental health, and how common are mental health problems?

Defining mental health: what is meant by mental health and mental health problems, how definitions and attitudes have changed over time, and the incidence of mental health problems.

A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Psychology Topic 3, covering how mental health and mental health problems are defined, how attitudes have changed over time, and the incidence of mental health problems.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.89 min answer

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

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  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. Defining mental health
  3. How attitudes and definitions have changed
  4. The incidence of mental health problems
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What this dot point is asking

Edexcel wants you to explain what is meant by mental health and mental health problems, how definitions and attitudes have changed over time, and the incidence (how common) mental health problems are. This sets up Topic 3, which then studies depression and addiction in detail.

Defining mental health

Mental health is not simply the absence of illness; it is a positive state of coping and functioning. Mental health problems range from common conditions such as depression and anxiety to less common, more severe disorders. They are usually identified using diagnostic criteria (recognised lists of symptoms), which help professionals decide whether someone's experience counts as a disorder.

How attitudes and definitions have changed

Definitions also change because what counts as a disorder is partly shaped by culture and time: behaviours once labelled abnormal may later be accepted, and diagnostic criteria are revised as research advances.

The incidence of mental health problems

The incidence of mental health problems (the number of cases) appears to have increased over time, but this needs careful interpretation. Part of the rise reflects more recording: reduced stigma, greater awareness and broader diagnostic criteria mean more people seek help and more cases are diagnosed. Part may reflect a genuine increase, linked to modern pressures such as social media, financial and academic stress, and weaker community support. Mental health problems are common: surveys suggest a large minority of people experience a problem such as depression or anxiety at some point in their lives, and rates differ by age and gender.

Try this

Q1. Define a mental health problem. [2 marks]

  • Cue. A condition that disturbs thoughts, feelings or behaviour enough to interfere with everyday functioning.

Q2. Give one reason recorded mental health problems may have increased. [1 mark]

  • Cue. More diagnosis from reduced stigma and awareness, or real changes in modern life such as stress.

Q3. Explain one way attitudes to mental health have changed. [2 marks]

  • Cue. They have moved from stigma and misunderstanding towards a more medical, accepting view, though some stigma remains.

Exam-style practice questions

Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.

Edexcel 20193 marksDescribe how attitudes towards mental health problems have changed over time. (Paper 1)
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A 3-mark Describe item rewards an account of how views have shifted, ideally with a then-and-now contrast.

In the past, mental health problems were often misunderstood and stigmatised: they were sometimes blamed on supernatural causes or weakness, and sufferers could be isolated or institutionalised. Over time, attitudes have become more medical and accepting: mental health problems are now usually seen as genuine illnesses with biological and environmental causes that can be treated, and there is more openness about them. However, some stigma still remains, which can stop people seeking help.

Markers reward the contrast between past stigma and misunderstanding and the more accepting, medical modern view, plus the point that some stigma remains.

Edexcel 20214 marksExplain two reasons why the recorded incidence of mental health problems may have increased over time. (Paper 1)
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A 4-mark Explain item rewards two developed reasons for the rise in recorded cases.

First, reduced stigma and greater awareness mean more people recognise their symptoms and seek help, so more cases are diagnosed and recorded, even if the true rate has not risen as much. Second, changes in modern life, such as social media pressure, financial and academic stress, and weaker community support, may genuinely increase mental health problems. Better and broader diagnostic criteria also mean more conditions are now recognised and counted.

Markers reward two clear, explained reasons. The strongest answers separate a rise in recording (more diagnosis) from a rise in actual incidence (real-world causes).

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