The Meaning of Mental Health

Definitions of mental health are changing. It used to be that good mental health meant you had no diagnosable mental illness. Now, more mental health professionals are taking a "positive psychology" approach and recognizing that mental health is more than an absence of illness, it is a state of health.

Ability to enjoy life - Are you able to learn from the past and plan for the future without dwelling on things you can't change or predict?

Resilience - Are you able to bounce back from hard times?

Balance - Are you able to make changes to restore balance when necessary?

Flexibility - When problems arise, can you change your expectations - of life, others, yourself - to solve the problem and feel better?

Taking the pulse of mental health brings different results for everyone; it's unique to the individual. By reflecting on these characteristics, you can recognize your strengths, and identify areas where your level of mental fitness could be improved.

For more information, please visit cmha.ca or Mental Health Works.