Helping Young People to have Flourishing Mental Health
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.” World Health Organization
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.” World Health Organization
Corey Keyes’ Model of Mental Health
What is Flourishing? Three Parts: 1. The Pleasurable Life – positive emotions and activities done for pleasure 2. The Good Life – Positive functioning in Relationships, Work, Play 3. The Meaningful Life – including positive social functioning
What is Flourishing? Three Parts: 1. The Pleasurable Life – positive emotions and activities done for pleasure 2. The Good Life – Positive functioning in Relationships, Work, Play 3. The Meaningful Life – including positive social functioning
What is Flourishing? Three Parts: 1. The Pleasurable Life – positive emotions and activities done for pleasure 2. The Good Life – Positive functioning in Relationships, Work, Play 3. The Meaningful Life – including positive social functioning
What is Flourishing? Three Parts: 1. The Pleasurable Life – positive emotions and activities done for pleasure 2. The Good Life – Positive functioning in Relationships, Work, Play 3. The Meaningful Life – including positive social functioning
What is Languishing? The absence of Flourishing/Happiness: 1. Negative sense of well-being 2. Not functioning in: – Relationships – Work – Play 3. No sense of meaning or purpose
What is Moderate Mental Health? Two types: 1. Settling – High Well-Being, Low Functioning 2. Striving – High Functioning, Low Well-Being
Flourishing 1. Emotional Well-Being (“The Pleasurable Life”) 2. Psychological Well-Being (“The Good Life”) 3. Social Well-Being (“The Meaningful Life”)
Flourishing: The Pleasurable Life – Flourishing and Emotional Well-being vs. feeling “happy” – Flourishing is characterized by a normal range of emotions including sadness when sad things happen or fear if you are in danger. – Flourishing feelings also include: Gratitude, Serenity, Interest, Hope, Pride, Amusement, Inspiration, Awe, Love, Satisfaction, Peace, Calm – AND….
How to encourage more positive emotional well-being – Positivity ratio 1 to 3 (Fredrickson) – How we experience an event depends on what we think – Encourage savouring using mindfulness. – Make time for fun – Practice Gratitude
The science of happiness video
Flourishing 1. Emotional Well-Being (“The Pleasurable Life”) 2. Psychological Well-Being (“The Good Life”) 3. Social Well-Being (“The Meaningful Life”)
Flourishing: The Good Life – The realization of one’s own potential – The ability to function well – Can occur across various domains: relationships, work, play – Characterized by vital engagement and “flow.”
What is Flow? – Being “in the zone” – Time stands still and flies at the same time. – Present in the moment – Loose sense of self and you are immersed in the task – Intense yet relaxed – “Joyful Absorption”
How to help International Students find Engagement – Provide a variety of options and help students connect with things they may find intrinsically motivating (relationships, work, play) – Help them think about and set goals that are meaningful for them – Notice their growth and achievement – Help them to set appropriate challenges that are well matched to the young person’s level of skill and interest – Allow for time to engage that is relatively free from distraction
Flourishing 1. Emotional Well-Being (“The Pleasurable Life”) 2. Psychological Well-Being (“The Good Life”) 3. Social Well-Being (“The Meaningful Life”)
The Meaningful Life – Desire for meaning is a basic human motivation and viewed as necessary for long term happiness. – meaningfulness = positive functioning + life satisfaction/happiness – meaninglessness = psychological distress + disengagement
Four areas of Life Meaning – Achievements/work (being committed to one’s work, believing in its worth, and liking challenge) – Relationships/intimacy (Relating well to others, trusting others, and being altruistic and helpful) – Religion/spirituality (sense of ultimate purpose, ethics, commitment to a higher power and seeking the divine in daily experience. “the recognition of a transcendent, meta-empirical dimension of reality and the desire to establish a relationship with that reality.) – Self-transcendence/generativity (contributing to society, leaving a legacy, and transcending self-interest.)
Meaning is Created from “Flow” Sources: – Identification with the domain (Relationships, Work, Play) – A feeling of solidarity with the field and its practitioners – A self-image arising from one’s own practice
Storytelling and Meaning – How do we narrate our lives? – How do we create meaning from our experiences? – TED talk – Emily Esfahani Smith – There’s More to Life than Being Happy
Emily Esfahani Smith video – The Difference Between a Meaningful Life and a Happy Life
What keeps some International Students from Flourishing?
Stressors for International Students – “Culture shock” – differences in social norms, food, attitudes, etc. – Homesickness – loss of familiarity, security, connection (not necessarily “home”). – Weather – Racism and discrimination – Language
Stressors for International Students – Isolation and loneliness – Worries about family (financial, parent’s mental health) – Academic pressure (from self or family) – Change of role in the family (interpreter, caregiver, advisor) – Living a “dual culture” with one set of norms at home and another at school or with friends.
How are you helping International Students to have Flourishing Mental Health?
Helpful Websites Mind your Mind https://mindyourmind.ca/wellness/taking-joy-simple-things Foundry https://foundrybc.ca/supporting-others/supporting-a-friend/supporting-friends- mental-wellness/ Kids Help Phone Website https://kidshelpphone.ca/ Stress Hacks http://www.stresshacks.ca/links.html#ymhc
References Carney, P. (2015). Well aware: Developing resilient, active, and flourishing students . Toronto, ON: Pearson. Emmons, R. A. (2003). Personal Goals, Life Meaning, and Virtue: Wellsprings of a positive life. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 105-125). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Fredrickson, B. L. (2009). Positivity . New York, NY: Three Rivers Press. Haidt, J. (2003). Elevation and the positive psychology of morality. In C. L.M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 275-289). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
References Keyes, C. L.M. (2014, November). Flourishing: The fourth aim of Education . Paper presented at Mental health and wellness: Educating for action organized by Manitoba Association of School Superintendents, Winnipeg, MB. Keyes, C. L.M. (2003). Complete mental health: An agenda for the 21st century. In C. L.M. Keyes & J. Haidt(Ed.), Flourishing:Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 293-312). Washington, DC:American Psychological Association. Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2003). The construction of meaning through vital engagement. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishinng: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 83-102). Mental health first aid Canada: For adults who interact with youth (Mental Health Commission of Canada, Comp.). (2010). Mental Health Commission of Canada.
References – Piliavin, J. A. (2003). Doing Well By Doing Good: Benefits for the benefactor. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 227- 243). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. – Rising to the challenge: A strategic plan for mental health and well-being of Manitobans (Government of Manitoba, Comp.).(2011). http://www:gov.mb.ca/health/mh/challenge.html – SoulPancake (Producer). (2013). Gratitude = happiness: science of happiness [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/ The science of happiness. On Gratitude = happiness: The watch?v=oHv6vTKD6lg – TED Talks (Producer). (2017). Emily Esfahani Smith: There is more to life than being happy. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_esfahani_smith_there_s_more_to_life_than_being_ happy?language=en
References TED Talks (Producer). (2004). Martin Seligman: The new era of positive psychology. On Martin Seligman: The new era of positive psychology [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology?language=en Westerhof, G. J., & Keyes, C. L.M. (2009). Mental illness and mental health: The two continua model across the lifespan. Journal of Adult Development , 17 , 110-119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10804-009- 9082-y
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