Six Signs of Good Mental Health — A Psychological Perspective
Most conversations about mental health focus on what happens when things go wrong — the signs of depression, symptoms of anxiety or indications that someone may need additional support. Those conversations are important. But it is equally valuable to understand what positive mental health and psychological wellbeing can look like.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), drawing on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2020–2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, around 1 in 5 Australians aged 16 to 85 experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.
Mental health, however, is more than whether or not someone meets the criteria for a mental health condition. It exists on a continuum and can change throughout life in response to individual, relational, social and environmental circumstances.
Understanding characteristics associated with positive mental health can help people reflect on their wellbeing, recognise areas where they may benefit from additional support and focus not only on managing distress, but also on building a meaningful and connected life.
This article explores six evidence-informed indicators of good mental health: emotional regulation, meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose, resilience, self-awareness and the ability to seek and accept help.
These are not diagnostic criteria or a checklist that everyone must meet. Mental health is individual, and people may experience strengths in some areas while finding others more challenging.
Key Takeaways
- Good mental health is more than the absence of mental illness and includes positive psychological and social wellbeing.
- The World Health Organization describes mental health as a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community.
- Emotional regulation, meaningful relationships, purpose, resilience, self-awareness and help-seeking can be useful areas to consider when reflecting on psychological wellbeing.
- These areas can change over time and may be supported through healthy relationships, reflection, community connection and appropriate professional support.
- Cairnmillar’s Community Clinic offers completely free individual counselling for people aged 4 and over, with no referral required. Low-cost assessment services are also available.
What Is Good Mental Health?
The World Health Organization describes mental health as a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community.
This definition is important because it frames mental health as more than simply the absence of a mental health condition.
Good mental health does not mean feeling happy all the time, never becoming anxious or coping perfectly with every challenge. Difficult emotions such as sadness, frustration, fear and grief are normal parts of human experience.
Instead, positive mental health can involve having enough psychological, relational and practical resources to navigate difficulties, maintain meaningful connections, participate in daily life and seek appropriate support when needed.
The following six indicators provide one useful way to think about these dimensions of wellbeing. They should not be used as a diagnostic tool or as a standard against which to judge yourself or somebody else.
Sign 1 — Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation is the capacity to recognise, experience and respond to emotions in ways that are appropriate to the situation.
It does not mean suppressing difficult emotions or remaining calm at all times. Grief, frustration, fear, anger, disappointment and anxiety can all be understandable responses to difficult experiences.
Emotional regulation involves being able to experience these emotions without consistently becoming overwhelmed by them or responding in ways that create further difficulties. It can also involve gradually returning to a more settled emotional state after periods of activation.
The ability to regulate emotions differs between people and can also change depending on stress, sleep, health, relationships, previous experiences and current circumstances.
When emotional regulation is persistently difficult or significantly interferes with everyday life, professional support may be useful. Cairnmillar clinicians work with a range of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based therapy and person-centred approaches, depending on the needs of the individual.
Sign 2 — Meaningful Relationships
Supportive social relationships are closely associated with psychological wellbeing.
Good mental health does not require a large social network or constant social activity. What matters can be the quality of a person’s relationships and whether they have opportunities to feel understood, respected, supported and connected.
Healthy relationships can provide emotional support during difficult periods, opportunities to share positive experiences and a sense of belonging.
At the same time, relationship conflict, loneliness and social isolation can affect mental and physical wellbeing.
Relationships are also complex. A person can experience good mental health while experiencing difficulties in a particular relationship, and different people need different types and levels of social connection.
When relationship difficulties are causing ongoing distress, counselling may provide a space to understand patterns, improve communication and explore ways forward.
Cairnmillar offers individual counselling, couples and relationship counselling and family therapy.
Sign 3 — A Sense of Purpose
A sense of purpose can involve feeling that your life has meaning, direction or connection to something that matters to you.
Purpose does not have to come from a career or major achievement. It may come from relationships, family, creative activities, learning, volunteering, community participation, spirituality, caring for others or living in accordance with personal values.
Having a sense of purpose also does not mean feeling motivated every day. People can experience uncertainty, grief or other significant difficulties while still maintaining a sense that particular relationships, values or goals matter to them.
Approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy often explore personal values and how people’s actions can move them towards what matters to them. Person-centred approaches may also provide space for people to explore identity, meaning and personal direction.
Cairnmillar’s Centre for Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion Research focuses on applied research relating to health and wellbeing across diverse communities and life stages, including child, youth and family wellbeing, inclusive communities, health behaviours and workplace mental health.
Sign 4 — Resilience in the Face of Difficulty
Resilience generally refers to the ability to adapt when facing adversity, significant stress, loss or change.
Being resilient does not mean being unaffected by difficult experiences. A resilient person can still experience grief, anxiety, uncertainty, exhaustion or distress.
Rather than eliminating those responses, resilience can involve drawing on personal strengths, supportive relationships, practical resources and professional support to navigate difficult circumstances.
Resilience should also not be viewed purely as an individual responsibility. A person’s environment, relationships, financial circumstances, physical health, access to services and wider community can all influence their capacity to cope with challenges.
Skills that may support resilience can develop over time. These include emotional regulation, problem-solving, self-awareness, supportive social connection and recognising when additional help is needed.
Cairnmillar’s Mental Health First Aid training teaches adults how to recognise signs of mental health problems in other adults, begin supportive conversations, provide initial assistance and encourage appropriate professional support.
Cairnmillar’s Core Counselling Skills workshop also provides an introduction to practical interpersonal skills such as active listening, person-centred communication, self-awareness and strengths-based approaches.
The Core Counselling Skills program is introductory and does not qualify participants to practise professionally as counsellors.
Sign 5 — Self-Awareness
Self-awareness involves developing an understanding of your thoughts, emotions, behaviours, values, strengths and patterns of responding.
It does not require perfect insight. Everyone has blind spots, and our understanding of ourselves can change as we encounter new relationships, experiences and challenges.
Greater self-awareness can make it easier to recognise emotional triggers, understand how particular situations affect us and notice patterns that may be helpful or unhelpful.
It can also support more considered decision-making. Instead of reacting automatically, a person may become better able to recognise what they are experiencing and consider how they want to respond.
Self-awareness may develop through personal reflection, meaningful relationships, counselling, psychotherapy and other forms of learning.
For mental health practitioners, professional supervision can also provide a structured opportunity for reflection on clinical work. Cairnmillar offers professional and clinical supervision for registered psychologists and other eligible allied health professionals, delivered by Psychology Board-approved supervisors.
Supporting Your Mental Health
Interested in understanding and supporting your mental health?
Cairnmillar offers individual counselling and psychological assessment services. Completely free individual counselling is also available through Cairnmillar’s Community Clinic for people aged 4 and over, with no referral required.
Low-cost assessment services are also available through the Community Clinic.
Call 1800 391 393 or request a clinic appointment to begin the intake and triage process.
Sign 6 — The Ability to Seek and Accept Help
Knowing when to ask for support is an important wellbeing skill.
People sometimes interpret independence as being able to manage every challenge alone. In reality, everyone encounters situations where advice, practical assistance, emotional support or professional care can be valuable.
Help-seeking involves recognising that something is difficult, identifying an appropriate source of support and being willing to engage with that support.
People may encounter barriers to asking for help, including stigma, cost, access to services, previous experiences, cultural expectations or uncertainty about where to begin.
Recognising these barriers can help people identify practical ways to address them.
Cairnmillar’s Community Clinic provides completely free individual counselling for people aged 4 and over, with no referral required.
Services are delivered by student clinicians undertaking postgraduate training in psychology, counselling and psychotherapy under the guidance of experienced Psychology Board-approved supervisors.
The Community Clinic operates across Cairnmillar’s four Melbourne locations — Hawthorn East, Melbourne CBD, North Melbourne and Dandenong. Telehealth is also available.
How Cairnmillar Supports Mental Wellbeing
Founded in 1961, Cairnmillar Institute is an independent not-for-profit organisation and registered health promotion charity working across mental health education, research and clinical practice.
Its Triple Helix model connects clinical practice, education and research so that evidence, teaching and professional experience can inform one another.
Clinical services: Cairnmillar provides individual counselling, couples and relationship counselling, family therapy, child and adolescent counselling, psychological assessments, employee assistance services and professional clinical supervision. The Community Clinic provides completely free individual counselling and low-cost assessment services through supervised student clinicians.
Education: Cairnmillar provides psychology, counselling and psychotherapy education across vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate levels, alongside professional development programs including Mental Health First Aid, Core Counselling Skills and Building a Psychologically Healthy and Safe Workplace.
Research: Cairnmillar’s Centre for Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion Research focuses on applied research designed to improve health, wellbeing and social inclusion. Its research priorities include health behaviours in chronic conditions, inclusive and diverse communities, child, youth and family wellbeing, and workplace mental health.
Together, Cairnmillar’s clinical, education and research activities contribute to its broader work supporting mental health and wellbeing across Australian communities.
Conclusion
Good mental health is not a permanent state or a destination that someone either reaches or fails to reach.
Mental wellbeing can change throughout life and is influenced by individual circumstances, relationships, physical health, community, environment and access to appropriate support.
The six indicators explored in this article — emotional regulation, meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose, resilience, self-awareness and the ability to seek help — provide useful areas for reflection rather than a diagnostic checklist.
People may feel strong in some of these areas and find others more difficult, particularly during periods of stress or change.
If one or more areas of your mental health are causing concern or affecting your daily life, professional support may be helpful.
Cairnmillar’s counselling, psychological services and Community Clinic provide a range of support options. To find out more, visit the Cairnmillar Clinic or call 1800 391 393.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of good mental health?
There is no single official checklist that determines whether someone has good mental health. Useful indicators can include being able to regulate emotions, maintain meaningful relationships, experience a sense of purpose, adapt to difficulties, develop self-awareness and recognise when support is needed.
Mental health exists on a continuum and can change throughout life.
How do I know if my mental health is good?
Good mental health does not mean feeling happy all the time or never experiencing anxiety, stress or sadness.
It may involve being generally able to manage emotions, participate in everyday life, maintain supportive relationships, adapt to challenges and seek help when needed.
If you are concerned about changes in your thoughts, emotions, behaviour or daily functioning, consider speaking with an appropriately qualified health professional.
How can I support my mental health?
Mental wellbeing can be supported in different ways depending on the individual.
Helpful approaches may include maintaining supportive relationships, engaging in meaningful activities, looking after physical health, developing strategies for managing stress and seeking professional support when difficulties persist or interfere with everyday life.
Cairnmillar’s Community Clinic offers completely free individual counselling for people aged 4 and over, with no referral required.
What is emotional regulation and why does it matter for mental health?
Emotional regulation refers to the ways people recognise, experience and respond to emotions.
It does not mean suppressing difficult feelings or remaining calm all the time. Developing strategies for managing emotional responses can support relationships, decision-making and everyday functioning.
When emotional regulation is causing significant difficulties, a counsellor, psychologist or another appropriately qualified professional may be able to help.
Why is asking for help important for mental health?
Everyone experiences situations that may be easier to navigate with support.
Recognising when help is needed and knowing where to seek it can be an important part of looking after mental health. Support might come from trusted friends or family, community services, a GP, counsellor, psychologist or another appropriate health professional.
What mental health services does Cairnmillar offer?
Cairnmillar’s clinic offers psychological and counselling services to adults, alongside couples and relationship counselling, family therapy, child and adolescent counselling, psychological assessments, employee assistance services and professional clinical supervision.
Cairnmillar’s Community Clinic offers completely free individual counselling and low-cost assessment services to people aged 4 and over, with no referral required.
Services are available across Cairnmillar’s four Melbourne locations — Hawthorn East, Melbourne CBD, North Melbourne and Dandenong — with telehealth also available for suitable services.
Call 1800 391 393 to request an appointment.
Crisis Support
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate support, the following Australian services are available:
| Service | Contact | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Services | 000 | 24/7 |
| Lifeline | 13 11 14 | 24/7 |
| SuicideLine Victoria | 1300 651 251 | 24/7 |
| Beyond Blue | 1300 224 636 | 24/7 |
| MensLine Australia | 1300 789 978 | 24/7 |
| Sexual Assault Crisis Line Victoria | 1800 806 292 | 5 pm–9 am, 7 days |
| Kids Helpline | 1800 551 800 | 24/7 |
| Safe Steps | 1800 015 188 | 24/7 |
| 13YARN | 13 92 76 | 24/7 |
| QLife | 1800 184 527 | 3 pm–9 pm daily |
Service details and operating hours can change. Check the relevant service’s current information when accessing support.