The aim of the study was to examine the social and economic variables associated with mental health by means of telephone interviews of a randomly chosen population sample (n = 1557) in Finland in 1993. Mental health was evaluated by means of a 12-item General Health Questionnaire. A mental disorder, indicated by the GHQ score, was detected in 18.3% of the interviewees. Mental disorders were more common in women than in men. Other factors associated with a mental disorder were unemployment, financial difficulties and insufficient social support from other people. Mental disorders, indicated by the GHQ score, were common in the long-term unemployed, users of hypnotics and sedatives, and in those who were uncertain about their future. In stepwise logistic regression analyses the statistically independent associates with impaired mental health were suicidal thoughts, receiving of housing allowance and female sex. On the other hand, being on salary was a protective factor.