The Hopelessness Scale

Hopelessness often creates a cloud around its victim. Self-awareness lessens as we experience despair and lack of purpose. When we are struggling we need feedback those who know us best, the voice of a trusted friend is critical for objectivity and grounding. Self-assessment can be valuable as well. The Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) is a tool for self-analysis.

The scale, developed by Dr. Aaron Beck, takes an inventory of well-being through twenty questions. The scale measures three major aspects of hopelessness: feelings about the future, loss of motivation, and expectations.  It measures the extent of the respondent’s negative attitudes, or pessimism, about the future. It may be used as an indicator of suicidal risk in depressed people who have made suicide attempts. Click this link to access the scale: From the Fray- Hopelessness Scale