Characteristics of Mental Health
Understanding the characteristics that make up good mental health will help you determine how mentally fit you are. Here are some real-life examples:
Ability to enjoy life You’ve just become engaged. You join your friends and family in celebrating the future you are planning with your partner. You realize that life before and after your marriage will bring challenges, but worries about problems that may crop up do not dim the joy you feel.
Resilience Due to changes in the marketplace, you are suddenly laid off from a job you love. You are shocked and angry, but those emotions fade quickly as you put the event in perspective. You gather solid references, revamp your resume and begin your job search.
Balance An old friend confronts you, saying you never have time for him. You are taken aback and give excuses of overwork. Then you look at it from their point of view, and realize you have been letting that relationship and other personal interests slide. You make a commitment to restore the balance.
Self-actualization While working full-time at an undemanding job, you take a night course in a field that has always intrigued you. You realize your talents and interests lie with this other area. You consult your teacher for advice and begin pursuing a new career path.
Flexibility The love of your life has walked out. You are devastated and feel like all your plans for the future have been ruined. After grieving for a time, you begin to see that your expectations of the relationship and of your partner were unrealistic. Gradually, you reconsider what you want and expect from a partner.
Take the Mental Health Meter
Now you’re ready to take our Mental Health Meter. Please answer every question below as honestly as you can. Read each statement, indicating whether you “Agree” or “Disagree” with it. Then, click on the “Submit“ button at the end to get your score and your results.
Disclaimer
This is not a scientific test. Information provided is not a substitute for professional advice. If you feel that you may need advice, please consult a qualified health care professional.
Making the Mental Health Meter Work for You
Ability to enjoy life
- If you scored
less than 3 points, your enjoyment of life is being diminished by anxiety and worry. Some of your concerns are based on real problems, but many are “what ifs” and “maybes”. - If you scored
3-6 points, your ability to enjoy life is good to excellent. The higher your score, the stronger your capability to live in the moment and accept that there are some things you cannot predict or change.
Resilience
- If you scored
less than 3 points, your resilience may be too low. You isolate yourself during tough times, and the lack of support and other perspectives means you tend to stay focused on the negative. - If you scored
3-6 points, your resilience is good to excellent. The higher your score, the more strongly you feel that even though life can be full of tough times, it’s important to keep your perspective.
Balance
- If you scored
less than 3 points, your life is out of balance. Whether it’s work, family or personal interests, one or more aspects of your life are being neglected. - If you scored
3-6 points, your life has a fair to good degree of balance. The higher your score, the stronger your realization that there are many facets to your life that are important to you and deserving of your interest and attention.
Self-actualization
- If you scored
less than 3 points, you are lacking in self esteem. You tend not to trust other people’s good opinions of your abilities and talents, nor do you feel that you could truly make more of your life. - If you scored
3-6 points, you have a good to high degree of self-actualization. The higher your score, the more you are able to value your own unique strengths and potential, and work to develop them to enhance your life.
Flexibility
- If you scored
less than 3 points, you are not as flexible as you could be in your opinions or expectations. This rigidity can create a strong sense of frustration. - If you scored
3-6 points, you have a fair to good level of flexibility. The higher your score, the stronger your belief that change is a fact of life, and that seeing things from other points of view helps you adapt to change and make the most of your life and the people in it.
