ACTIVITY TO PROMOTE

POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH

Jennifer Creek
 WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?

A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her

own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can
work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a
contribution to his or her community.
(WHO 2004)
DUAL CONTINUA MODEL OF
MENTAL HEALTH
 HOW THE WORKSHOP IS
STRUCTURED
• Factors that have been found to promote mental health
and format for reflecting on the mental health promoting
properties of activity
• Small group practical activity
• Reflection on the experience of activity
• Large group discussion
 MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION
• Improving quality of life and potential for health rather than
the amelioration of symptoms and deficits (WHO 2002)
• Consists of actions taken to enhance the mental well-being
of individuals, families, organisations and communities
(mentality 2004)
 EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE

The range of protective mechanisms and processes that

enable people to withstand the potentially damaging effects
of stress and to maintain high self-esteem and self-efficacy in
the face of adversity
(Rutter 1987)
Protective factors promoting good mental health
Mild to moderate intensity of emotional reactions; predictable behaviour

Valued social role

Sense of humour

Openness to new situations

Above average intelligence

Aptitude for a particular skill

Good problem-solving skills

Effective social skills

Internal locus of control

High self-esteem

High activity levels

Awareness of own strengths and limitations

Empathy for others

Successful task accomplishment

Social success

Opportunities for new, positive experiences

Sense of connectedness
Features of engagement in activity Mental health promoting factors
Experiencing distraction from distressing symptoms Mild to moderate intensity of emotional reactions; predictable behaviour
Participating in life situations Valued social role
Sharing jokes and laughter with others Sense of humour
Trying new experiences Openness to new situations
Learning new skills Above average intelligence
Trying out new activities Aptitude for a particular skill
Solving problems Good problem-solving skills
Interacting with others Effective social skills
Experiencing a sense of control over one’s own actions Internal locus of control
Raising self-esteem through successful completion of activities High self-esteem
Engaging in a range of activities High activity levels
Testing own capacities Awareness of own strengths and limitations
Becoming aware of the feelings of others Empathy for others
Producing a satisfactory end product Successful task accomplishment
Being accepted by others Social success
Learning about opportunities and developing the confidence to Opportunities for new, positive experiences
take them

Building social networks Sense of connectedness

References

Keyes CLM (2002) The mental health continuum: from languishing to flourishing. Journal of Health and Social
Behaviour. 43: 207-222.
Keyes CLM (2005) Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of mental
health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 73: 539-548.
Keyes CLM (2007) Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing: A complementary strategy for improving
mental health. American Psychologist. 62(2): 95-108.
Keyes CLM (2014) Mental health as a complete state: how the salutogenic perspective completes the picture. In: GF
Bauer, O Hämmig (eds) Bridging occupational, organizational and public health: a transdisciplinary approach.
Dordrecht: Springer. 179-192.
mentality (2004) Mental health promotion. www.mentality.org.uk.
Rutter M (1987) Psychosocial resilience and protective mechanisms. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 57(3):
316-331.
World Health Organization (2002) Prevention and promotion in mental health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
World Health Organization (2004) Promoting mental health: Concepts, emerging evidence, practice: Summary report.
Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.