メンタルヘルス
Meaning
Mental health — awareness and care of psychological wellbeing, often used in workplace and public health contexts.
メンタルヘルス is the more formal counterpart to casual メンタル, used in workplace policies, government campaigns, and media discussions about psychological wellbeing. Japanese companies are increasingly required to conduct stress checks (ストレスチェック) and provide メンタルヘルス support. The term signals a societal shift toward taking mental health seriously, though stigma still exists around actually seeking help.
Examples
- 最近の企業はメンタルヘルス対策にもっと力入れるべきだよ。 Companies these days really need to put more effort into mental health initiatives.
- メンタルヘルスについてオープンに話せる社会になってほしい。 I hope we become a society where we can talk openly about mental health.
- 学校でもメンタルヘルスの授業があったらいいのにな。 I wish they'd teach mental health classes in school too.
Usage Guide
Context: workplace, media, healthcare, social media
Tone: serious, awareness-raising
Do Say
- うちの会社もメンタルヘルスの相談窓口できたよ。 (Our company set up a mental health consultation desk.)
- メンタルヘルスは体の健康と同じくらい大事だよね。 (Mental health is just as important as physical health.)
Don't Say
- 「メンタルヘルスって甘えでしょ」は絶対に言わない (Never say 'mental health is just being soft' — this dismissive attitude perpetuates harmful stigma)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing メンタルヘルス (the concept/field of mental health) with メンタル (one's personal mental state) — they have different usages
Origin & History
From English 'mental health.' Adopted into Japanese as awareness of workplace mental health grew, especially after Japan mandated corporate stress checks in 2015.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s, boosted by 2015 mandatory stress check law
Generation: All ages, used in corporate and educational settings
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Japan's 2015 Stress Check System (ストレスチェック制度) made メンタルヘルス a standard workplace term.
Related Phrases
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