How to Say "Mental Health" in Japanese

メンタルヘルス

mentaru herusu

The English phrase 'mental health' is translated into Japanese as メンタルヘルス (mentaru herusu).

メンタルヘルス refers to emotional well-being.

Meaning: emotional well-being (noun)

Which one should you use?

While メンタルヘルス is the standard term, the shortened version メンタル is often used in informal conversations.

mentaru herusu

While メンタルヘルス is used in medical or formal contexts, many Japanese people use the phrase 心の健康, which literally translates to 'health of the heart'.
The phrase メンタルが崩れる literally means 'one's mental is collapsing' and is a common slang expression for having an emotional breakdown or losing one's composure.
While メンタルヘルス is a loanword, using the native Japanese term 精神衛生 (seishin eisei) can sound extremely formal, almost like a government regulation or a textbook.

メンタルヘルスも健康の大切な要素だ。
Mental health is also an important part of your overall health.
This sentence is useful for showing how to state that mental health is an important component of overall health using メンタルヘルス.
Tatoeba #13179829 by Gardenia, translation #13969308 by justpeachy
相談に乗ってもらえませんか
Can you lend me an ear?
最近、メンタルヘルスを大切にしています。
Saikin, mentaru herusu o taisetsu ni shite imasu.
Recently, I have been taking care of my mental health.
仕事よりもメンタルヘルスが優先です。
Shigoto yori mo mentaru herusu ga yuusen desu.
Mental health is a higher priority than work.

Two colleagues are having a quiet chat during a break at the office.

大翔 Hiroto

結衣さんは、最近忙しそうですね。
Yui-san wa, saikin isogashisou desu ne.
Yui, you look busy lately.
結衣 Yui

はい、でもメンタルヘルスには気を付けています。
Hai, demo mentaru herusu ni wa ki o tsukete imasu.
Yes, but I am being careful about my mental health.
大翔 Hiroto

それはよかったです。無理はしないでください。
Sore wa yokatta desu. Muri wa shinaide kudasai.
That's good to hear. Please don't overdo it.
結衣 Yui

ありがとうございます、大翔さん。
Arigatou gozaimasu, Hiroto-san.
Thank you, Hiroto.

Sources

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