Understanding the vast and, at times, daunting subject of mental wellbeing can be a complex and endless task. However, as an e-learning software provider, Learning Labs is experienced in taking a subject matter and breaking it down into bite-sized learning. This was the approach the Learning Labs team took in researching and developing their concept for understanding mental wellbeing, known as The Six Domains of Mental WellnessTM. The idea being that if there just six different influences on a person’s overall mental wellbeing, this should be much easier to understand, maintain and even develop.
The Six Domains of Mental WellnessTM include Emotional, Motivational, Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual and Social Wellness, and have become the core basis of the ‘Learning Labs Plus’ e-learning content for higher education professionals and students.
Learning Labs Head of Product Bryony Steventon said: “In order to experience a relatively healthy sense of mental wellbeing, every person needs fuel – we need our physical body to feel fit and well, and as human beings it is equally important that we also stimulate our minds – known as our intellectual wellness. We need a healthy amount of self-motivation in order to feel competent and autonomous in our day-to-day activities. If we have good physical, intellectual and motivational wellness, we are better equipped to make plans for the future, to explore our sense of purpose in our spiritual wellness and form and maintain our social connections to other humans. Our social wellness can support us during challenging times, but so can our emotional resilience and balance.
“There are many ways the domains are interlinked – so this is just one way of considering them. This concept can be closely linked to a theory known as the Dynamic Model of Wellbeing by NEF, which something we looked at in our research phase and details a complex relationship between internal, external environmental factors. However, in creating a tangible solution for students and staff in higher education, we wanted to focus just on the influences a person can control, which is how we developed The Six Domains of Mental WellnessTM. The Six Domains are all influences on mental wellbeing that an individual can learn about, maintain and develop at their own pace.
“Each of the six domains also contains key drivers, breaking down this concept even further into bite-sized learning. For example, if someone wants to develop their Spiritual Wellness, they can focus on the key drivers of self-esteem and purpose.”
Learning Labs’ parent company, the eQuality Solutions Group commissioned the New Economic Foundation to carry out a research report defining the supporting evidence for The Six Domains of Mental WellnessTM. The report can be read here.
