Mental health is just as important as physical health. For generations, this was not accepted by the general public. To show signs of mental illness--whether depression, mania, PTSD, or another illness--was considered ill-advised with a stigma attached. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, but there are still great gaps in public perception as to what signs of mental illness merit further investigation, and in some cases, immediate action. This book is designed to specifically address this need. The basic test has been used by hundreds of thousands of readers to self-diagnose or provide an initial red flag concerning close friends and loved ones. The book is not intended to replace the need to consult psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and other health professionals but to alert you and those you love to the need to consult such professionals.
In addition to the basic mental health test, my coauthor psychologist Nell Daly has added more than a dozen additional personality and mini mental health tests. Some of these tests are just fun to do and others will help you determine your personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses. By adding these tests, we wanted to further remove any stigma you might feel in sharing this book with others. With the first edition which was entitled How to Test Your Own Mental Health, we discovered that many readers were self-conscious, thinking their friends and family would immediately think they had mental health concerns. With the change of title and added tests, hopefully we will be able to reach an even larger audience, though the earlier editions did sell in excess of 250,000 copies.
The book you have in your hands will help you and will help others. Read it, take the tests, and share your results as appropriate. During these stressful times, we can all benefit from greater awareness and knowledge related to mental health.