Objective:To explore the status of mental health and its relationship with mental resilience in children living in rural three gorges area. Methods:With the mental health test and resilience youth and development module scales,922 children in middle schools were investigated. The participants were chosen through the multiple stratified cluster sampling. Results:①The detection rate of men-tal problem in left-behind children was 7.4%,which was not significantly different from that of non left-behind children(t=-3.393,P=0.084). ②Compared with those of non left-behind children,left-behind children had higher scores in learning anxiety,loneliness tendency and physical symptoms(P<0.05). ③Except for learning anxiety and self-accusation tendency,the other mental health sub-scale scores were all negatively related with mental resilience(P<0.05). Conclusions:The mental problem detection rate in children in rural three gorges areas is lower than the national level and is not significantly different from that of non left-behind children. But the general mental health,learning anxiety and physical symptoms of left-behind children are worse than non-left-behind children. The higher mental resilience,the better mental health,therefore,when conducting health education,the above details could be tak-en into consideration.