This layer examines the broad external forces and structural systems that influence our collective mental well-being. 

Formal governance and legal frameworks act as the structural backbone for well-being, directing the resources and cross-agency collaboration necessary to support healthy functioning and accessible mental health care.

Our local environments and social landscapes directly shape our mental health, acting as public experiences that can either foster well-being or create systemic barriers to stability.

This layer represents the vital bridge between policy and the individual, where schools, healthcare providers, community and other services work together to remove logistical barriers and provide collaborative, professional support essential for long-term mental health and healthy development.

Our immediate circle of family, peers and partners is a vital natural support system where nurturing relationships and positive home environments provide an important buffer against stress, and shape our long-term health behaviors.

The Individual layer focuses on the “micro” level, or the internal characteristics that influence how someone interacts with the world.