Flourishing Mental Health Requires Flourishing Communities: The Case for Public Mental Health

This presentation summarizes the conception and measurement of the mental health continuum, findings supporting the two continua model of mental health and illness, and the benefits of ‘flourishing' mental health to individuals and society. Flourishing individuals are less likely to develop internalizing psychopathology over time, report the fewest missed days of work, the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease, the lowest number of chronic physical diseases and physical ailments with age, the fewest health limitations of activities of daily living, lower healthcare utilization, and the lowest risk of all-cause mortality. However, a large portion of the US youth and adult populations are not flourishing, requiring better understanding of the social determinants that promote flourishing. Evidence is reviewed showing the importance of educational attainment, reduced national income inequality, social inclusion, positive institutions, and generativity (intergenerational transfer of skills and wisdom) for protecting and promoting flourishing mental health.