Positive Mental Health Surveillance Conceptual Framework - Text Version

What is positive mental health?

Positive mental health is the capacity of each and all of us to feel, think, and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face.

A Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework for surveillance of positive mental health and its determinants contains 5 outcome indicators and 25 risk and protective determinant indicators. The risk and protective determinant indicators are organized within 4 domains at the individual, family, community and societal levels. Each domain influences the positive mental health of the population.

Positive Mental Health can be measured with 5 outcome indicators:

• Self-rated mental health
• Happiness
• Life satisfaction
• Psychological well-being
• Social well-being

Risk and protective determinants at the individual domain include:

• Resiliency
• Control
• Coping
• Violence
• Health status
• Physical activity
• Nurturing childhood
• Substance use
• Spirituality

At the family domain, risk and protective determinants include:

• Relationships
• Parenting style
• Health Status
• Household composition
• Income
• Substance use

At the community domain, risk and protective determinants include:

• Community involvement
• Social networks
• Social support
• School
• Workplace
• Neighbourhood Social and Built Environment

At the society domain, risk and protective determinants include:

• Inequality
• Political participation
• Discrimination and stigma