The answer to this question can best be understood by describing the definition, cause and treatment proposed by each position. What will become obvious is that each perspective has its own progression and logic. The information presented is intended to provide an overview and is not meant to be a comprehensive description.
According to the traditional view mental health is the absence of mental illness which, in a sense, is a diseased state. The diseased state (i.e., mental illness) is characterized by varying degrees of disturbed thought, unstable emotions and unacceptable behavior. According to the holistic view mental health is a manifestation of balance among our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states. An imbalance between mental functioning and any of these other states is considered to be something that requires attention.
Mental illness is seen as having a variety of causes which include, but are not limited to the following: genetic predisposition; experiencing a traumatic event; neurotransmitter imbalances; alcohol or drug use; faulty thinking; and learned maladaptive behaviors. The holistic view suggests that problems in everyday functioning occur when someone is not able to manage stress consistently and that this results in an imbalance among our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states.
Treatment options for mental illness are based on the identification of symptoms and include, but are not limited to the following: counseling; medication; electroconvulsive therapy; and self help groups. The holistic view seeks to identify the cause(s) of the problem and intends to restore balance to the unbalanced state through the use of counseling; nutrition; herbal remedies; homeopathic remedies; accupuncture; chiropractic adjustments; and various other modalities.
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