Mental Health & Wellbeing Quiz

1. What is 'mindfulness'?

1. A form of extreme focus during exercise
2. A type of medication for anxiety
3. Avoiding negative thoughts entirely
4. Paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement

2. How many hours of sleep do most adults need per night for optimal health?

1. 10–12 hours
2. 5–6 hours
3. 6–7 hours
4. 7–9 hours

3. What is the 'fight or flight' response?

1. A breathing technique for relaxation
2. A decision-making framework for conflict resolution
3. A therapy technique for anger management
4. The body's automatic physiological reaction to perceived threat or danger

4. What is 'cognitive behavioural therapy' (CBT)?

1. A form of brain stimulation treatment
2. A talking therapy that helps change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns
3. A type of hypnosis
4. Medication for depression

5. Which hormone is often called the 'stress hormone'?

1. Cortisol
2. Dopamine
3. Oxytocin
4. Serotonin

6. What is 'serotonin' associated with?

1. Blood pressure regulation
2. Controlling appetite only
3. Energy production in cells
4. Feelings of wellbeing and happiness

7. What is 'burnout' in the context of mental health?

1. A medical term for insomnia
2. A state of chronic stress leading to physical and emotional exhaustion
3. A temporary feeling of boredom at work
4. Physical exhaustion from intense exercise

8. Which of these is a key symptom of clinical depression?

1. Anxiety about a specific upcoming event
2. Feeling tired after a bad night's sleep
3. Occasional sadness
4. Persistent low mood and loss of interest in activities for two or more weeks

9. What is the primary benefit of 'social connection' for mental health?

1. It has minimal impact on mental health
2. It mainly helps with physical fitness
3. Only formal therapy provides mental health benefits
4. Strong social bonds reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and even physical illness

10. What is 'REM' sleep?

1. A sleep disorder characterised by movement
2. Rapid Eye Movement sleep, when most dreaming occurs
3. The deepest stage of sleep
4. The lightest stage of non-dreaming sleep

11. Which of these activities has strong evidence for improving mood and reducing anxiety?

1. Avoiding all social interaction
2. Regular physical exercise
3. Spending more time on social media
4. Working longer hours

12. What is 'anxiety disorder' characterised by?

1. Dislike of social situations
2. Excessive, persistent worry that is disproportionate to actual threats and interferes with daily life
3. Feeling nervous before a presentation
4. Occasional panic in dangerous situations

13. What does 'dopamine' primarily regulate in the brain?

1. Memory consolidation only
2. Pain response
3. Sleep cycles
4. The reward and motivation system

14. What is a 'panic attack'?

1. A mild anxiety response to stress
2. A sudden episode of intense fear with physical symptoms like racing heart and shortness of breath
3. A symptom of depression only
4. A type of seizure

15. Which of these is a well-evidenced strategy for improving sleep quality?

1. Drinking alcohol to fall asleep faster
2. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule — same wake time every day
3. Napping for over 2 hours daily
4. Using your phone in bed

16. What is 'self-compassion' in psychology?

1. Being lenient with others' mistakes
2. Focusing exclusively on self-improvement
3. Ignoring your own faults
4. Treating yourself with the same kindness you would show a good friend

17. What is the 'placebo effect'?

1. A drug side effect
2. A medical error
3. A type of cognitive bias
4. An improvement in health due to belief in a treatment, not the treatment itself

18. How does spending time in nature affect mental health?

1. It consistently reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
2. It has no proven effect
3. It is helpful only if combined with exercise
4. It only helps people with existing conditions

19. What is 'emotional intelligence' (EQ)?

1. A measure of memory capacity
2. The ability to recognise, understand, and manage your own and others' emotions
3. The ability to remain emotionless under pressure
4. The ability to solve complex logical problems

20. What is the purpose of the 'amygdala' in emotional processing?

1. It controls balance and coordination
2. It manages long-term memory storage only
3. It processes emotions, especially fear, and triggers the stress response
4. It regulates blood pressure