You’d probably agree that getting a regular physical health checkup is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You likely try to eat right (most of the time), exercise, and get enough sleep. However, if you are like most Americans, you neglect to inspect the most important organ of the body – the brain.

“We’ve been told for so long to get physical checkups, but taking care of our emotional well-being has been sorely overlooked,” said Dorothy Cantor, Psy. D., former president of the American Psychological Association. “We are whole people – whole in the sense that our minds and bodies are connected. If we only take care of our physical well-being and not our emotional well-being, it could come back to haunt us.” Because of the mind/body connection, an emotional problem can deter us from reaching our physical fitness goals.

When most people hear the term “mental health,” they immediately think of mental illness. But mental health is more than just the absence of a mental illness, it is determined by factors such as how you feel about yourself, how you feel about others, and how you meet the demands of everyday life.

There are many degrees of mental health and no one characteristic is indicative of good mental health; nor can the lack of any one characteristic signify a mental illness. In fact, nobody has all the traits of good mental health all the time.

Here are some questions that can help you assess your mental health:

Question One: Do you feel good about yourself? Do you take pleasure in everyday things, can you deal with most obstacles without being overwhelmed, can you take disappointment in stride, do you have a tolerant attitude, are you realistic, and can you accept your own shortcomings?

Question 2: Do you feel comfortable with other people? Are you able to love and consider the interest of others, are you able to have satisfying relationships, can you trust others, do you not take advantage of others nor let yourself be taken advantage of, and do you feel a sense of responsibility to others?

Question Three: Are you able to meet life’s demands? Do you do something about problems as they arise, do you accept responsibilities, are you able to shape your environment adjust to changes, do you plan ahead and not fear the future, do you welcome new experiences and set realistic goals?

If you do identify an area of deficiency, the next step is to see a trained counselor; however, according to Linda Bradley, Intake Team Coordinator at Portage Path Behavioral Health, people often don’t seek the treatment they need.

“People view mental health as something to be ashamed of, and they shouldn’t. I’ll ask a client ‘Would you drag a broken leg around for six months?’ No! You’d go to the doctor and have it taken care of – so why not deal with your emotional issues in the same way?”

“In today’s world, people are asked to juggle numerous responsibilities, often putting their own needs on hold to get the job done,” says Bradley. “Eventually, something has to give. People can ask themselves ‘Am I satisfied with all aspects of my life, and if not, in which areas am I dissatisfied?’ More importantly, what am I going to do about it?”

It is important for everyone to take a moment to evaluate their emotional health and determine if they need help.

Tracy Yaeger, Ph.D., Clinical Director at Portage Path, encourages community awareness. “Being educated about the symptoms of mental health is the best mental health check anyone can do for themselves. When the symptoms start appearing, or they know they just aren’t feeling like themselves, it’s time to get help.”

If you’d like to learn more about mental health issues as part of your health plan, free reference guides are available at www.portagepath.org, or by calling 330-253-3100 ext 146. In addition, the Portage Path website offers free screenings for anxiety, depression, eating disorders and alcohol issues.

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