Mental health difficulties are common in the general population. According to the World Health Organization, a significant proportion of people experience certain symptoms or difficulties related to mental health during their lifetime, and for some individuals these may reach the level of a clinically significant disorder (World Health Organization, 2001; 2019).
Despite this, we still live in a society where mental health care is often insufficiently addressed and burdened by stigma. Psychological distress is sometimes seen as something to endure, something not to talk about, or something not important enough to address. Such attitudes may lead to delaying help-seeking and worsening of difficulties.
Mental health includes a wide range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of functioning. As with physical health, every individual has the right to be informed about their own condition and to pay attention to possible changes or difficulties. Early recognition and timely response can play an important role in maintaining and improving quality of life.
In practice, people often begin to pay attention to their mental health only when difficulties significantly impair daily functioning (e.g., relationships, work performance, overall life satisfaction). Interventions that begin at later stages may be more demanding and prolonged, which is why early action is beneficial – not only when difficulties are present, but also when there is room for improvement in functioning and well-being.
It is important to emphasize that working on mental health is not only about resolving problems, but also about developing personal potential, improving relationships, and enhancing overall daily functioning. Changes at the individual level often have positive effects on the surrounding community.
This material presents a set of statements that can be associated with different aspects of mental functioning. They are based on clinical, counseling, and scientific work and are grouped according to areas they may reflect.
Important: this is not a diagnostic instrument. The results of this questionnaire do not represent a diagnosis and do not replace a professional assessment. Psychological diagnostics are conducted under controlled conditions, using validated instruments and professional guidance.
It is possible that some users will recognize themselves in certain statements and feel concerned. Such a reaction can serve as a prompt for further reflection and, if needed, seeking professional help. The goal of this material is not to induce concern, but to encourage informed and constructive engagement with one's own experiences.
At the same time, recognizing oneself in certain statements does not necessarily mean that a person has mental health difficulties. The key criterion is the extent to which certain states or patterns impair daily functioning of the individual and/or people in their environment.
This material has a psychoeducational purpose – to encourage reflection on one's own experiences as well as a better understanding of others.
After completing the questionnaire, the number of statements the user identified with will be displayed across different categories. These results serve only as general guidelines for reflecting on one’s functioning and identifying areas that may deserve attention.
World Health Organization. (2001). World health report. Mental disorders affect one in four people. Treatment available but not being used. Retrieved July 7th 2020 from: https://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/
This is a psychoeducational material aimed at increasing awareness not only of one's own but also of others’ mental health difficulties (see: LINK). It may also be used as a useful tool in clinical or counseling work.
1. The questionnaire is intended for individuals aged 18 and older, and for younger individuals only under the supervision of a qualified professional (e.g., a psychologist), assuming adequate cognitive abilities.
2. Answering 'Yes' to any statement does not mean that the person has mental health difficulties or that professional help is required. However, individuals experiencing significant psychological distress or impairment in daily functioning are encouraged to seek professional help regardless of their results.
3. This questionnaire is not a diagnostic tool and does not have a standardized scoring interpretation. The number of statements endorsed does not represent a quantitative measure of severity or presence of mental health difficulties.
4. When used in professional settings, results should be interpreted collaboratively through discussion between the client and the professional.
5. The questionnaire may be used: 1) prior to seeking professional help, as a way to identify topics for discussion; 2) during or after treatment to monitor changes over time (quantitatively and/or qualitatively).
6. It may also be used for self-reflection, for example by asking: What would my life look like in a few years if this does not change? Do I want to make a change in this area?
7. In case of suicidal thoughts or ideation, it is necessary to seek help immediately. https://odaberi-zivot.com/
8. Part of the assessment battery includes the short version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), whose results can be roughly compared with suggested severity categories.