Glossary beginning with M

Majority Groupsearch for term
An ethnic/racial group that has the largest population and usually the greatest economic and political power in a society is referred to as the 'majority group'.
Marriage and civil partnershipsearch for term
Marriage is defined as a 'union between a man and a woman'. Same-sex couples can have their relationships legally recognised as 'civil partnerships'. Civil partners must be treated no less favourably than married couples. Source: EHRCdefinition glossary of terms, http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/new-equality-act-guidance/glossary-of-terms/
Medically unexplained symptomssearch for term
Persistent physical complaints that do not have a readily recognisable medical cause. The pain, worry and other symptoms are nonetheless real and cause distress. People of all ages with medically unexplained symptoms present frequently to the NHSdefinition. Contacts with primary care clinicians may be at least 50% more frequent per person than in the general population, and they may also have up to 33% more secondary care consultations. Source: DHdefinition (2011) No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: DH.
Mental capitalsearch for term
The entirety of a person’s cognitive and emotional resources. It includes their cognitive ability, how flexible and efficient they are at learning, and their ’emotional intelligence‘, such as their social skills and resilience in the face of stress. It therefore conditions how well an individual is able to contribute effectively to society, as well as their ability to enjoy a high quality of life. Source: DHdefinition (2011) No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: DH.
Mental healthsearch for term
Good or positive mental health is more than the absence or management of mental health problems; it is the foundation for wellbeing and effective functioning both for individuals and for their communities. Source: DHdefinition (2011) No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: DH.
Mental health difficultiessearch for term
Mental health difficultiesdefinition is the preferred inclusive term within the FEdefinition system to refer to people who may describe themselves as experiencing mild to moderate to severe mental health problems or issues or illness or conditions regardless of duration, medical diagnosis, or if a person is disabled or not. It reflects our understandings that: 1. Mental healthdefinition is not a ‘static’ concept or condition it is best represented as a continuum from good mental well-being and health to mental illness along which we can all move in either direction at different times in our lives. 2. People who have mental health difficulties are a constantly changing and heterogeneous population crossing all social groups, including people of all social classes and income groups, people of all ethnic origins, all ages, males and females; people who may be gay or lesbian or transgender, people who may or may not have a history of offending and people who may have other concomitant disabilities and or health problems. The term attempts to ‘encapsulate the difficulties that people experience in accessing, remaining and succeeding in learning and skills and employment that arise from, impact on or relate directly to their mental health and well-being… and the many and interrelated factors that affect a person’s opportunity to realise their goals, ambitions and potential through participation in [employment] learning and skills.’ (LSCdefinition, 2009) The term ‘difficulty’ ‘…relates to a person’s prospect of participating and succeeding in learning and skills rather than relating to their mental health condition. For some people, mental illness and/or a low sense of well-being may create problems for them in learning and engaging with a learning environment. We also understand that many of the difficulties in accessing learning and skills lie within the attitude of others or may be caused by organisational or structural barriers to participation. These barriers to learning and skills may exist for other groups of learners, but the relationship between mental illness and/or a poor sense of well-being may make these barriers seem even more insurmountable and therefore people can be doubly disadvantaged in accessing and succeeding in learning’ (LSC, 2009).
Mental Health Minimum Datasetsearch for term
A nationally defined framework of data on adult patients, held locally by mental health trusts. It is designed to show in detail the patterns of care received by patients looked after by specialist mental health care providers in England. Source: DHdefinition (2011) No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: DH.
Mental health problemsearch for term
The preferred phrase used in the Government Mental Health strategy (2011) as an umbrella term to denote the full range of diagnosable mental illnesses and disorders, including personality disorder. Mental health problems may be more or less common and acute or longer lasting, and may vary in severity. They manifest themselves in different ways at different ages and may present as behavioural problems (for example, in children and young people). The strategy acknowledges that some people object to the use of terms such as ‘mental health problem’ on the grounds that they medicalise ways of thinking and feeling and do not acknowledge the many factors that can prevent people from reaching their potential. Source: DHdefinition (2011) No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: DH.
Mental health trustssearch for term
Health care trusts that provide specialist mental health services in hospitals and local communities.
Mental Illnesssearch for term
A term generally used to refer to more serious mental health problems that often require treatment by specialist services. Such illnesses include depression and anxiety (which may also be referred to as common mental health problems) as well as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (also sometimes referred to as severe mental illness). Conduct disorder and emotional disorder are the commonest forms of childhood mental illness. Source: DHdefinition (2011) No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: DH.
MHFAsearch for term
Mental healthdefinition first aid is the help given to someone experiencing a mental health problem before professional help is obtained.
MHFEsearch for term
Mental healthdefinition in further education
MHHEsearch for term
Mental healthdefinition in higher education
Migrant Workerssearch for term
A migrant worker is someone who has come from abroad to work in the UK. If a migrant worker has permission to work from the Home Office, then they have the same employment rights as all workers, including the right to a minimum wage and the right to be protected from discrimination.
Minority Groupsearch for term
An group that has a smaller population than the controlling majority group in a society. The group can be identified by ethnicity, race, gender or another socio-cultural marker.
MoDsearch for term
[Government] Ministry of Defence
MoJsearch for term
[Government] Ministry of Justice
Monitoringsearch for term
Monitoringdefinition for equality data to check if people with protected characteristics are participating and being treated equally. For example, monitoring the representation of women, or disabled people, in the workforce or at senior levels within organisations. Source: EHRCdefinition glossary of terms, http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/new-equality-act-guidance/glossary-of-terms/
Moodlesearch for term
Moodledefinition (abbreviation for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a free and open-source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
More favourablysearch for term
To treat somebody better than someone else. This is unlawful under the Act if it is because of a protected characteristic except in very limited circumstances e.g. the duty to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled person. The law can require pregnant workers to be treated more favourably in some circumstances. Source: EHRCdefinition glossary of terms, http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/new-equality-act-guidance/glossary-of-terms/
MSTsearch for term
Multisystemic Therapydefinition
Multisystemic Therapysearch for term
Sometimes abbreviated as MSTdefinition. Multisystemic therapy is an evidence-based, intensive family- and community-based intervention that helps high-risk young people to modify their conduct or address their emotional problems and improves long-term outcomes. Source: DHdefinition (2011) No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: DH.
MWBsearch for term
Mental well-being – is about our ability to cope with life’s problems and make the most of life’s opportunities; it is about feeling good and functioning well, as individuals and collectively.
MWIAsearch for term
Mental Well-being Impact Assessment – uses a combination of methods, procedures and tools to assess the potential for a policy, service, programme or project to impact on the mental well-being of a population.