What are some signs of mental health? And what is mental health itself? Let’s think of mental health as a combination of contentment with oneself, feeling a sense of meaning or purpose in life, having the ability to empathise and bond with others, doing rational decision-making, accepting reality, having a sense of social responsibility, and the absence of cognitive or emotional disorders.
We can tell we are mentally healthy when we show kindness, tolerance and patience, when we express anger constructively, when we are not overly critical of ourselves or others, when we pursue and enjoy interests, when we enjoy learning and improving, and when we take in and appreciate such things as special talents, beauty, humour, surprises, nature, accomplishments and bravery.
Mentally healthy individuals experience a balance between looking out for their own interests and acting in the best interests of their family, friends, and society. Healthy individuals are humble about their good fortune, and they feel lucky more than proud or deserving.
Mentally healthy people enjoy a sense of their own integrity and values, and they try to avoid judging themselves or others. Warning signs of judgment are thinking in terms of “should,” “ought,” or “must.” Unhealthy inner self-talk includes examples like, “I can’t stand ______,” “Life isn’t fair,” “Why me?” and “I hate _____.”
Mentally healthy people can change their minds and opinions, and they do not stereotype groups of people. On the other hand, healthy people recognise that certain individuals or situations are toxic or dangerous to them, and they are careful to limit their exposure to these.
Healthy people pay attention to warning signs of personal risk or danger (the hair on our neck standing up), and they are careful about things that seem too good to be true or are presented as too “black and white.”
Healthy people get out of destructive relationships, with other people, with groups or organisations, and with habits and substances. Mentally healthy people ask for help when needed, and they are open about their fears and concerns to people they trust.
Healthy people respect expertise and scientific knowledge, while at the same time they are clear and comfortable about holding certain beliefs, values, and world views that sustain and inspire them.
Healthy people realise they are part of a larger world, and while they feel a sense of individual importance and uniqueness, they also accept that they are part of something large and complex and shared with other beings. Healthy people have an awareness of their limits – in what they can accomplish, in what they can control, and in determining the length and circumstances of their lives.
Mentally healthy people balance trying to improve on the one hand and accepting themselves as adequate or OK on the other. I sometimes think of each person’s life as a developing work of art. We are given certain raw materials in the beginning, and each day we are adding to or taking away from this work of art – and the day we die it is complete (and uniquely ours).
We are tempted and sometimes encouraged to focus on happiness as our goal. The mentally healthy person enjoys happiness when it comes, but strives more for contentment and satisfaction. We should not expect fairness or justice in life, though we appreciate them when they happen and sometimes fight for them.
The healthy person focuses instead on making choices, giving love, achieving understanding, improving something, and having interests and passions.
Psychologist
