"While these are not exactly either-or options, the prevailing perspective in the social sciences has been to think of mental health in terms of depression, anxiety, and psychological disorders-whether it be the assessment, diagnosis, or treatment of these conditions. By this view, the better management of these problems thereby equals improved mental health. This is indeed part of the equation of our psychological landscape, but it is a relatively small part."
"A science of character strengths has exploded in the last 20 years, amassing over 1,000 peer-reviewed studies (Feraco and Casali, 2025), a free scientific measurement tool with over 35 million takers (VIA Institute, 2025), and tens of thousands of global practitioners applying character strengths interventions in their contexts (Niemiec, 2018). Character strengths, at their essence, are our mental health. They are capacities for thinking, feeling, and behaving; we can think curious and hopeful thoughts, have grateful and loving feelings,"
Prevailing approaches often define mental health by the absence of disorders such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, which leaves the “health” aspect underemphasized. Just over 20 percent of people have a diagnosable mental illness, so focusing only on illness misses broader mental flourishing. A rigorously studied VIA classification of character strengths provides a complementary language for mental health, supported by over 1,000 peer-reviewed studies, a measurement tool with over 35 million takers, and widespread practitioner use. Character strengths are capacities for thinking, feeling, and behaving and serve as central pathways for both well-being and coping with adversity.
Read at Psychology Today
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