Fields of mental health protection: health learning from a multi-disciplinary perspective

Abstract

By reviewing major developments in the diversity of disciplines related to mental health in the field of social studies and helping professions, the author presents a comparative analysis in the current article. He determines the multi- and interdisciplinary domain in which efforts and practices of mental health promotion are realized by identifying historical roots, analyzing conceptual frameworks as well as various national and international institutions representing a multitude of mental health activities. Historical paradigms of mental health – positive mental health and positive psychology, health promotion and health learning – describe the major factors in mental health in the decision making and intervention processes of social policy.