So What Is Good Mental Health?

Many of us have studied Abnormal Psychology in college. It is often a prerequisite class and can provide an introductory foundation to identify the hallmarks of poor mental health. After taking the introductory class, we often go about diagnosing our friends and family with this or that neurosis or disorder. But good mental health is not simply the absence of diagnosable mental health problems.

Can we as easily define good mental health? Reflection on good mental health provides guideposts to our growth. We should be as diligent toward good mental health habits as we are to our physical or dental health. Are we deficient in some areas? Where do we need to improve?

According to the Mental Health Foundation, good mental health is characterized by a person’s ability to fulfil a number of life functions such as the ability to learn; the ability to express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions; the ability to form and maintain good relationships with others; and the ability to cope with change. If you have good mental health, you can likely reach your potential, cope with life’s stressors, be meaningfully involved in your family, work, friendships and community.

I find William Menninger’s criteria of emotional maturity similar to emotional health: the ability to deal constructively with reality; the capacity to adapt to change; a relative freedom from symptoms that are produced by tensions and anxieties; the capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than receiving; the capacity to relate to other people in a consistent manner with mutual satisfaction and helpfulness; the capacity to sublimate, to direct one’s instinctive hostile energy into creative and constructive outlets; and finally the capacity to love.

Take a moment to reflect on your own capacity for emotional fitness. If you find yourself lacking in some areas, you would be wise to develop a self-improvement plan. Attention to good mental health is likely to protect against the development of mental health problems.