Diminished health-related quality of life Diminished mental health 2021-02-28T14:50:58Z Mental impairment Reduced mental health The WHO defines mental health as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Thus, mental health is not a state of absence of mental illness. Mental health has been defined on the basis of three components of mental health: emotional well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being. Alternatively, mental health can be defined as a dynamic state of internal equilibrium which enables individuals to use their abilities in harmony with universal values of society. Attempts to measure mental health in as objective a fashion as possible may involve questionnaires such as the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) health survey questionnaire. Impaired mental health is characterized by a reduction in the mental component score (MCS). A reduction in the subjective feeling of mental well being.