MENTAL ILLNESS AND WELL-BEING: THE IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based upon material published by BioMedCentral as part of their open access publishing which provides state of the art information and research to the public in an open and free access format for public use. This article was published as part of the Health Services Research division. The course material can be found at the BioMedCentral website at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/10/26 Abstract: A new evidence base is emerging, which focuses on well-being. This makes it possible for health services to orientate around promoting well-being as well as treating illness, and so to make a reality of the longstanding rhetoric that health is more than the absence of illness. The aim of this paper is to support the reorientation of health services around promoting well-being. Mental health services are used as an example to illustrate the new knowledge skills which will be needed by health professionals. New forms of evidence give a triangulated understanding about the promotion of well-being in mental health services. The academic discipline of positive psychology is developing evidence-based interventions to improve well-being. This complements the results emerging from synthesizing narratives about recovery from mental illness, which provide ecologically valid insights into the processes by which people experiencing mental illness can develop a purposeful and meaningful life. The implications for health professionals are explored. In relation to working with individuals, more emphasis on the persons own goals and strengths will be needed, with integration of interventions which promote well-being into routine clinical practice. In addition, a more societally focused role for professionals is envisaged, in which a central part of the job is to influence local and national policies and practices that impact on well-being. This course on positive psychology and well being is useful for social workers, nurses, professional counselors, psychologists, and addiction professionals who practice and need continuing education. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their understanding of how well being and mental health interact. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical course credits and are interested in enhancing their practice by using elements from the theory of positive psychology. Author: Slade Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information on positive psychology and well being. Specifically, a professional will: Identify the relationship between well being and mental health Recognize evidence-based interventions used in positive psychology to improve well-being Distinguish the implications of positive psychology for mental health professionals Citation: Slade, M. (2010). Mental illness and well-being: the central importance of positive psychology and recovery approaches. BMC Health Service Research 2010, 10:26