Mental health vs. mental toughness

What’s the difference between taking care of your mental health and “being mentally tough”?

Too often, society acts like people are opposites. You’re either strong and silent or struggling and seeking help. But this false divide has led to harmful myths that keep people from getting the support they need or from building the emotional resilience that helps them thrive.

It’s time to separate fact from fiction. And in this blog article, we’ll explore common myths about mental health and mental toughness, explain how they overlap, and highlight science-backed ways to build real resilience—without the shame.

What mental health and mental toughness really mean

Before diving into myths, it helps to define the terms people often confuse.

Mental health refers to emotional and psychological well-being. It’s how you think, feel, and relate to others. Like physical health, mental health fluctuates, and everyone has it, whether or not they live with a mental illness.

Mental toughness, or mental fitness, is the ability to stay focused, adapt to challenges, and keep perspective under stress. It involves emotional awareness, not emotional avoidance, and it's shaped by how you respond—not just how much you can endure.

Both are essential for well-being, and both can be improved with support and training.

Mental health myth #1: Mental health problems mean you’re weak

This belief is one of the most damaging myths out there.

Mental health conditions are medical issues. Just like a broken arm or high blood pressure, they require treatment and care. According to the World Health Organization, one in four people worldwide will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime.

Yet stigma makes many feel like they have to “tough it out” alone. Ironically, the strength it takes to ask for help, set boundaries, and prioritize your emotional health is the very definition of resilience.

Mental health myth #2: Mentally tough people don’t feel emotions

There’s a misconception that being mentally tough means staying stoic at all costs. 

In reality, emotional suppression is a shortcut to burnout. True mental toughness involves acknowledging emotions, not ignoring them. It means developing the awareness to notice stress, and the tools to regulate your response to it.

Suppressing emotion is easy. Processing it takes practice.

Mental health myth #3: You can “snap out of” anxiety or depression

If someone could will themselves out of a panic attack or depressive episode, they would.

Mental health struggles are rooted in brain chemistry, environment, and experience. Support like therapy, medication, or structured routines can make a real difference. So can building strong mental habits.

Meditation apps like Balance, journaling, mindfulness, and cognitive training programs like Elevate can help strengthen mental clarity, emotional regulation, and confidence over time.

But healing isn’t instant, and expecting someone to “snap out of it” only adds shame to the struggle.

Mental health myth #4: Resilience is something you’re born with

Some people seem to bounce back from setbacks like it’s second nature. But mental fitness is a skill. And like any skill, it can be practiced.

Research shows that cognitive training, mindfulness, and even habit tracking can improve mental function, focus, and stress response over time.

Think of mental fitness like physical fitness. You don’t have to be perfect to start—you just have to be consistent.

How mental health and mental toughness work together

It might seem counterintuitive, but caring for your mental health is one of the smartest ways to build mental toughness. And developing mental toughness can make it easier to manage your mental health.

The problem comes when society treats these things as opposites. When we tell people to “just be strong” instead of getting help, we ignore what real resilience looks like.

Real strength means knowing when to pause, how to stay balanced, and when to ask for support.

Tools that build both resilience and well-being

If you want to strengthen your mind, there are practical, science-backed tools that work—especially when used consistently. 

Some of the most effective include:

• Mindfulness and meditation, like with the Balance app, can help improve awareness and calm

• Journaling to process emotions and identify patterns

• Therapy or coaching to gain perspective and support

• Physical activity to boost mood and brain function

• Digital training tools, like the Elevate app, which offers over 40 brain games designed to improve focus, processing, and communication skills

These tools don’t replace therapy, but they do give you a daily way to train your brain, especially in areas like memory, emotional control, and stress resilience.

What real mental strength looks like

Mental health challenges don’t mean you’re broken. And “toughing it out” isn’t always brave—sometimes, it’s dangerous.

Building mental fitness is about knowing how to bend without breaking, how to respond instead of react, and how to grow from challenge instead of being crushed by it.

The more we break down these myths, the more space we create for real support, strength, and self-awareness.

Build real mental fitness with just 5 minutes a day

Mental strength isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why Elevate and Balance work best together.

Play Elevate to sharpen focus, improve memory, and strengthen problem-solving through personalized brain training. 

Then turn to Balance to manage stress, improve sleep, and stay emotionally grounded with personalized guided meditation.

Together, they give you the tools to build real mental fitness—and protect your mental health while you’re at it.