The Wellbeing Continuum Is a More Useful Way to Think About Mental Health
- Dr Louise Cowpertwait
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
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Mental health isn’t fixed, and it doesn’t fit neatly into a “well” or “unwell” box. It’s fluid, responsive to life’s pressures and supports, and shaped by both internal and external factors. That’s why tools like the wellbeing continuum are so valuable. They offer a flexible, more human way to understand how we’re doing and what kind of support might be needed.
At MindMatters Clinic, we’ve created a downloadable resource to help individuals and workplaces recognise where someone might sit on the mental health spectrum; from unwell or struggling, through surviving, to thriving. It includes clear signs to look for and suggested support strategies that match each stage, whether that’s seeking clinical care, adjusting workload, or reinforcing what’s already working.
Mental Health Isn’t All or Nothing
We often talk about mental health as though someone is either fine or not, but the reality is more complex. Most people shift along a continuum throughout their lives. You might be functioning well at work and keeping up with responsibilities, but feel flat, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted. Others might live with a mental health condition but still feel engaged, supported, and purposeful.
The Keyes Model: Flourishing and Struggling Can Coexist
Corey Keyes, a positive psychology researcher, introduced the concept of the Dual-Continuum Model. [i] This model shows that resilience and mental health are not opposite ends of a single scale. Instead, they are separate but related. Someone can experience symptoms of mental illness while still having strong social connections, meaning in life, and the ability to contribute. Likewise, someone with no clinical diagnosis might still feel like they are languishing, going through the motions without energy, motivation, or joy.
This model is backed by evidence and helps challenge a common myth; that being mentally unwell means you lack resilience, or that you can only thrive if you are free from distress. In reality, resilience and struggle often coexist.
What the Wellbeing Continuum Shows
Our Wellbeing Continuum resource is designed to make these ideas practical and visible. The first page outlines four core stages:
Thriving: Flourishing and doing great, with energy, purpose, and connection.
Surviving: Managing well overall, with manageable ups and downs.
Struggling: Feeling emotionally stretched, with signs of fatigue or withdrawal. Daily life may feel harder.
Unwell: Experiencing significant and persistent distress, which may include shutdown, panic, or being in crisis.
Each stage includes common signs and support options tailored to that level. The aim is to help people and teams feel more confident having conversations and take action that matches what’s needed.
Responding When Someone is Unwell
The second page of the resource offers more detailed guidance for the unwell end of the spectrum. It outlines what support options to focus on and signposts to formal support options, including the difference between talking therapist types, such as clinical psychologists and counsellors, and where to access these. It also reinforces that recovery is possible, that support should be timely, and that even small actions can make a meaningful difference.
This guidance is especially useful for people leaders, HR professionals, or others in roles where emotional wellbeing and performance intersect.
Why This Matters in Workplaces
Conversations about mental health are more common now, but that doesn’t mean they’re always clear or helpful. The wellbeing continuum gives structure and shared language to a topic that can otherwise feel vague or overwhelming. It allows teams to move beyond guessing or avoidance and towards earlier, more thoughtful support.
It also reinforces that being in a tough spot doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human. And that there are options.
Download the Wellbeing Continuum Resource
Whether you're supporting others or checking in with yourself, the Wellbeing Continuum can help guide conversations and decisions. It encourages more timely action, better support planning, and a deeper understanding of the full range of human experience.
Get in touch with our team if you would like support introducing it to your people or using it as part of your wellbeing strategy. MindMatters Clinic can also tailor resources to your organisation.
References
[i] Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The Mental Health Continuum: From Languishing to Flourishing in Life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43(2), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090197
