Mental Health Self-check Resources

Photo by Ümit Bulut

The University of British Columbia (UBC) headsupguys.org website offers a suite of self-checks for mental health.

Targeted towards men, and stressing that “mental health is a core part of our overall health – it requires attention, maintenance, and care,” the headsupguys.org website offers a Self-Check Suite of psychological tests to help better understand oneself and how different facets of life might be impacting one’s mental health.

The site offers screening tools for:

  • Depression

  • General Anxiety

  • Social Anxiety

  • Bipolar Disorder

  • PTSD &CPTSD

  • Stress Test

  • Anger Check

  • Emotional Regulation

  • Narcissism

  • ADHD

Quizzes are also provided on common stressors including:

  • Lack of Purpose or Meaning

  • Loneliness

  • Relationship Challenges

  • Financial Strain

  • Difficulties at Work

  • Body Image

  • While the quizzes provided are not designed to be used on their own as diagnostic tools, they can provide valuable insight into one’s current state of mental health and act as prompts to reach out for professional help. They are also useful, when used routinely over a period of time, to track changes in one’s life that can affect mental health. At the end of each quiz, targeted feedback and suggestions for next steps are offered.

The Self-Check Suite tools are free and anonymous. No personally identifying information is required.

For those who choose, an opportunity is offered to opt in to the UBC research study, in which case the quiz responses will be recorded to improve the tools and the research team’s understanding of men’s mental health. Contact information for the email newsletter (for those who opt in) is stored separately from the Self-Check responses to maintain anonymity for the quizzes.

On an individual basis, the Self-Check tools can be used to track one’s own progress and assist in gauging when it is time to reach out and take additional steps to improve one’s mental health, noting, however, “Individual Self-Check scores are a general indication of how you are doing. They are not provided as diagnostic tools, nor to generate labels to judge yourself with.”

For those supporting men who are dealing with mental-health challenges, a Peer Support Course is available. The 4-part course (15-20 minutes each) covers what effective peer support looks like, how to show up for others, and how to stay grounded whilst doing so. The free course is available at https://headsupguys.org/how-to-fight-depression/courses/mental-health-peer-support/

Fathering, Mental HealthJessica Campbell