The Mental Health Continuum Model (MHCM)
Mental health, like physical health, exists on a continuum. It is a dynamic changing state that can deteriorate or improve given the right set of circumstances. Therefore, mental health concerns, if identified and treated early, have the potential to be temporary and reversible.
The mental health continuum model, developed in collaboration with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in 2008, promotes awareness of mental health indicators in self and others, early recognition of distress, management strategies and prevention. This model goes from healthy adaptive coping (green), through mild and reversible distress or functional impairment (yellow), to more severe, persistent injury or impairment (orange), to clinical illnesses and disorders requiring more concentrated medical care (red). The arrows under the four color blocks denote movement in both directions is possible, thus indicating that there is always the possibility for a return to full health and functioning.
The mental health continuum model is designed to help identify specific changes in health and performance in six different domains: mood, attitude and performance, sleep, physical health, social well-being, and substance use/gambling/gaming issues.
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| Healthy | Reacting | Injured | Ill | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emotional Well-being | Frequent and regular experience of positive thoughts and emotions | Some reduced experience of positive thoughts and emotions | Finding it difficult to experience positive thoughts and emotions | Almost never experience positive thoughts and emotions |
| Performance & Functioning | My capacity to function is excellent | My capacity to function is good | My capacity to function is fair | My capacity to function is poor |
| Sleep | Mostly get enough quality sleep | Sometimes get enough quality sleep | Rarely get enough quality sleep | Never get enough quality sleep |
| Physical Well-being | My health is excellent | My health is good | My health is fair | My health is poor |
| Social Well-being | Socially active | Decreased social activities | Avoidance and/or withdrawal from social activities | Don't go out or answer the phone |
| Spiritual Well-being | Established sense of purpose and meaning; beliefs and worldview are secure | Exploring sense of purpose and meaning; beliefs and worldview are challenged | Losing sense of purpose and meaning; beliefs and worldview are weakened | Lost sense of purpose and meaning; beliefs and worldview are shattered |
| Addictions | No or limited use of alcohol and/or substances and/or gambling | Regular but controlled use of alcohol and/or substances and/or gambling to cope | Increased use of alcohol and/or substances and/or gambling; hard to control with negative consequences | Frequent use of alcohol and/or substances and/or gambling; unable to control with severe consequences |
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