1 Understanding mental health promotion and education

Health promotion in relation to physical health has been recognised as a powerful way of potentially preventing health conditions and diseases.

Figure 1 Prevention is better than cure

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This is a graphic showing a megaphone and the words ‘Prevention is better than cure!’

Figure 1 Prevention is better than cure

Preventing the causes of illnesses such as infections, heart disease and cancer is, as the old saying goes, ‘better than cure’. Health promotion requires people to be educated about the causes of health conditions so that they can learn how to adapt their behaviours in order to decrease their risk of developing a condition. In a similar way to promoting physical health, mental health can also be promoted.