Mental health of community residents in the metropolitan Montreal area: some results of the "Santé Québec Survey".

In 1987, the "Santé Québec Survey" reached 2,696 individuals over 15 years old, living in the Montreal area. A self-administered questionnaire included two scales that measured the positive and negative aspects of mental health. Controlling for the effects of socio-demographic factors and global health status indicators, a multidimensional analysis computed the odds of being at risk of psychological wellbeing and psychological distress if exposed to social isolation or stressful life events. Results show that the quality of integration to the social environment is a better predictor of mental health than poverty by itself.