07/04/2026
We often hear Brain Health and Mental Health being used interchangeably, almost as if brain health is seen as the ‘’new mental health’’, but it is important to recognise that the two are not the same.
Both are critical components of human flourishing and performance, but it is key for business leaders to understand the difference between the two.
Whilst a formal definition doesn’t quite exist, we often explain the difference along these lines:
- Brain health is about the physiological and functional capacity of the brain: how well it processes, remembers, learns, and regulates. Thus, we associate brain health with ‘’below the neck’’, physiological resilience.
- Mental health, on the other hand, relates to our emotional and psychological wellbeing, how we handle stress, connect with others, and navigate life’s challenges. Thus, we associate mental health more with ‘’above the neck’’, psychological resilience.
Brain health (we believe) is linked to allostasis, the body’s ability to to adapt to changes in the environment. A well-functioning brain supports physiological resilience, our capacity to adapt to stress, recover and maintain balance under pressure.
Being strong mentally and weak physiologically can be incredibly dangerous to an individual’s health and risk profile at work. Yet, the vast majority of corporate spend and activity is focused on mental strength.
So to sum up, if organisations are serious about human health and performance optimisation, they must expand their lens.
The companies that will lead in the coming years are those that recognise that resilience is not just how people think or feel, it is how their biology enables them to show up, adapt and sustain performance, in all situations.
