MENTAL HEALTH CHECKLIST

Mr. McCarthyRogich MSPg86-93

Remember: Mental and Emotional

Health is one of the three parts of your overall Health triangle

TheHealth

Triangle

Phys

ical

Social

Menta

l &

Em

otio

nal

Definition: Mental and Emotional Health:

The ability to handle the stresses and changes of everyday life in a reasonable way

Mentally Healthy?

• Does the definition say “You have no problems or stress?”

• Does the definition say “Your life is predictable and perfect?”

Two important things to think about…

FIRST: All three sides of

the Health Triangle are

very important

But … You could argue that the Mental and Emotional side of the triangle is actually the most important side.

Why might people think

this?

Will poor

Mental and

Emotional

Health

eventually

mess up the

other sides?

Physi

cal

Social

Mental &

Emotional

The

Health

Triangle

SECOND: Physical Health

is fairly easy to measure.

PHYSICALLY:You can check:

• Blood Pressure• Body Temperature• Heart Rate• Weight• Body Composition• Fitness Levels• X-Rays and MRIs• Blood Chemistry

But … Mental and

Emotional Health is

not so easy to

measure

• Are you Mentally

Healthy?

• How do you

know?

• What are common

traits of Mentally

Healthy people?

Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a simple “checklist” to see if you are Mentally and Emotionally Healthy?

Lets look a 15 point Mental Health

Checklist• Use this

checklist to evaluate your own levels of Mental Health.

• Use this checklist to see how mentally healthy you are

(1) You recognize your strengths, and are willing

to improve upon your weaknesses.

• You see yourself as you really are

• You have a proper self-image

• No one is good at everything

(2)You work through problems and conflicts to

a satisfactory end.

• We all have problems and conflicts

• We need to learn to deal with them in healthy ways

(3) You are able to love and accept love from others. You can empathize with

others.

• You try to feel what others feel

• You need to have people in your life with whom you connect, trust and respect.

• You can be “vulnerable”

(4) You can work andplay cooperatively in

give-and-take relationships.

• We all need to interact with others and compromise with others

• We cooperate at school, work, home, sports, etc.

(5) You are able torelax and have fun, both

on your own and in a group

• We must find healthy ways to manage stress

• We all relax or have fun in different ways

• What happens to people who never have fun or don’t manage stress?

(6) You have a standard of values which guides your

actions.

• MORALS: sense of right and wrong

• Things you will and won’t accept

• What happens if you have no values?

(7) You have a positive attitude and a positive

outlook on life• Things don’t

always go our way in life

• You try to see the glass as “half-full,” not “half-empty”

• When life gives you lemons, you make some lemonade

(8) You are able to change or adapt your behavior when

necessary. You do not act the same way all the time.

• Different situations require different types of behavior

• Do you behave the same at a funeral and at a birthday party?

• Do you act the same in a school classroom and at a soccer game?

(9)You have personal goals and dreams which are

realistic and within your capabilities.

• GOALS: things you are trying to achieve or reach

• You plan ahead and don’t fear the future

• If you have no goals, where are you going?

(10) You are not overwhelmed by emotions,

and you have healthy ways of dealing with emotions.

• Both Good & bad feelings: Excitement, happiness, joy, love, anger, hostility, guilt, sadness, fear, worry

• We often do things and say things we will regret if we cannot control our emotions

• What can out-of-control rage and anger lead to?

(11) You have different kinds of personal

relationships which you find satisfying.

• Friends, neighbors, family, classmates, coworkers, coaches, significant others

• We need to have a variety of types of relationships to be well-rounded and mentally healthy

(12) You act responsibly, and accept responsibility for feelings and actions.

• All our choices have consequences

• You do not blame others and make lame excuses

• Do you “own up” to the consequences of your choices and actions?

(13) You can accept constructive feedback from others without becoming

angry or defensive• You can accept

suggestions on how to improve or do something correctly

• Do you listen to good advice, or just do you own thing?

(14) You are accepting of change and new

situations

• Life is not always predictable and is full of change

• RESILIENCE: The ability to recover from problems or loss

(15) You have self-respect and treat others with

respect• You do not take

advantage of others

• You consider the interests of others

• You do not harm yourself or others deliberately

Which of these 15 Traits

of Mental Health are

your strengths?

In which of these 15 Traits

of Mental Health do you

need to improve?

Remember: Your Mental and Emotional Health is very important

You need to work on

supporting and

improving your Mental

and Emotional Health

every day

Never take your Mental and

Emotional Health for granted!

Make choices in your life

which protect and improve your Mental

and Emotional

Health

Be around people who care about you and your

Mental and Emotional Health

Good Luck!