Mental health: How to assess your psychological vital signs
Mental health: How to asses your psychological vital signs
Checking psychological vital signs to better understand and support each other
When it comes to physical health, taking psychological vital signs – such as breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature – is essential for assessing a person’s state of health. These indicators make it possible to spot abnormalities early on and adjust treatment to the patient’s needs. But what about caring for our mental health? Society is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of taking care of our psychological well-being.
Psychological vital signs are just as important in understanding our mental well-being. By monitoring these indicators, we can better detect our emotions, understand our current challenges and take steps to maintain or improve our state of mental health.
How to take your psychological vital signs?
Taking your psychological vital signs takes just a few minutes a day. Every day, take a moment (about one minute) to answer a few simple questions about your mental well-being. There are no universal measures for assessing psychological vital signs, but the psychological health barometer developed by the Ville de Montréal offers a practical and quick approach. The barometer uses color coding to assess different aspects of mental health, enabling you to quickly identify your overall emotional state.
How to interpret your color of the day?
Once you’ve answered the barometer questions, take a moment to note the trends. What’s your overall color today? Are there any areas where you’re having more difficulty? What positive aspects stand out in your analysis?
If some aspects are not in the green, ask yourself the right questions: What strategies can I put in place right now to improve my condition? What changes can I plan to make to positively influence my color in the days ahead?
Strategies to take care of your mental health
Depending on the color of your day, different self-management strategies can be implemented. For practical ideas, check out the Getting better my way website for helpful resources, as well as the printable guide Self Management Support. For more resources at your fingertips, you can also download a printable copy of the Psychological Health Barometer.
Looking for support?
Your well-being is our priority. If you’d like support in developing your ability to take psychological cues, or need help in implementing effective strategies to manage your emotional difficulties, our mental health professionals are here for you. At our clinics, we offer personalized support, tailored to your needs, to help you get through difficult times and improve your overall well-being. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment at one of our clinics to find the solutions that are right for you. Your mental health and well-being are important to us.