Mental health continuum
This approach (used by the NZ Defence Force, Canadian Defence Force and the US Marine Corps) describes mental health as existing on a continuum.
As day-to-day stresses and circumstances change, mental health is also a dynamic changing state that can deteriorate or improve, depending on life circumstances. If mental health concerns are identified and treated early, they have the potential to be temporary and reversible.
This approach shows our mental health represented on a continuum:
- from green - healthy
- to yellow - reacting
- to orange - injured
-
through to red - ill
Where we sit on the continuum at any point in time can shift, depending on life experiences, cumulative level of stress, levels of resilience - natural and learned - and levels of support. By knowing ourselves and our mechanisms for coping, or asking for support, we can learn to minimise the impact of stresses in life, and we can work on maintaining or improving our mental health.
Understanding the mental health continuum
People have also tried to explain the difference between mental health and mental health conditions by talking about a range or a continuum where mental health is at one end, represented by feeling good and functioning well, through to severe symptoms of mental health conditions at the other. Mental health is not fixed or in a static state, and we can move back and forth along this scale at different times during our lives.
At the green end of the continuum, people are well; showing resilience and high levels of wellbeing. Moving into the yellow area, people may start to have difficulty coping. In the orange area, people have more difficulty coping and symptoms may increase in severity and frequency. At the red end of the continuum, people are likely to be experiencing severe symptoms and may be at risk of self-harm or suicide.
| Healthy (Green) | Reacting (Yellow) | Injured (Orange) | Ill (Red) | |
| Mood |
Normal mood fluctuations; Calm and takes things in stride |
Irritable / Impatient; Nervous: Sadness / Overwhelmed | Anger; Anxiety; Pervasively sad / Hopeless | Angry outbursts / aggression; Excessive anxiety / panic attacks; Depressed/suicidal thoughts |
| Attitude and Performance | Good sense of humour; Performing well; In control mentally | Displayed sarcasm; Procrastination; Forgetfulness | Negative attitude; Poor performance / Workaholic; Poor concentration / decisions | Overt insubordination; Can't perform duties, control behaviour or concentrate |
| Sleep | Normal sleep patterns; Few sleep difficulties | Trouble sleeping; Intrusive thoughts; Nightmares | Restless disturbed sleep; Recurrent images / nightmares | Can't fall asleep or stay asleep; Sleeping too much or too little |
| Physical symptoms | Physically well; Good energy level | Muscle tension / Headaches; Low energy | Increased aches and pains; Increased fatigue | Physical illnesses; Constant fatigue |
| Social behaviour | Physically and socially active | Decreased activity/ socialising | Avoidance; Withdrawal | Not going out or answering phone |
| Alcohol and gambling | No / limited alcohol use / gambling | Regular but controlled alocohol use / gambling to cope | Increased alcohol use / gambling - hard to control with negative consequences | Frequent alcohol or gambling use - inability to control with severe consequences |
If you feel like you need some support, check out the links on Welfare and wellbeing.
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