WEEK 1 - Introduction To Mental Health Nursing Copy 3

Mental Health
• a state of well-being associated with happiness, contentment, satisfaction, achievement, optimism, or hope. However these terms
are difficult to define, and their meanings change as they relate to a particular person and life situation.
• Some suggest that mental health is not a simple concept or a single aspect of behavior. Instead, mental health involves a number of
criteria that exist on a continuum.
• Although no one reaches the ideal in all the criteria, most people can approach the optimum.
• The capacity of an individual to form harmonious relationships with others and to participate in or contribute constructively to
changes in the social environment” (WHO)
Positive Psychology:
• “The psychology of valued psychological phenomena, such as contentment and satisfaction (with the past), hope and optimism (for
the future), and happiness and well-being (in the present). It focuses on positive subjective experiences, such as love and aesthetic
appreciation; positive individual qualities, such as courage, interpersonal skill, perseverance, originality, and wisdom; and positive
social phenomena, such as cooperation, altruism, and tolerance. The term was introduced by the US psychologist Martin E. P.
Seligman (born 1942) in a Presidential Address to the American Psychological Association in 1998, and it was discussed at length in
the journal American Psychologist in 2000,” (Colman, Oxford Dictionary of Psychology)
• field of psychological theory and research that focuses on the psychological states (e.g., contentment, joy), individual traits or
character strengths (e.g., intimacy, integrity, altruism, wisdom), and social institutions that enhance subjective well-being and make
life most worth living. - APA Dictionary of American Psychological Association
Mental Health Nursing: “a specialty nursing practice focusing on the identification of mental health issues, prevention of mental
health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders” - The American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Marie Jahoda and the Ideal Mental Health (Compton & Hoffman, 2019)
• The first attempt to summarize the relevant literature on optimal well-being was undertaken by Jahoda (1958).
• The initial phrase used by Jahoda to describe her theory was “positive mental health,” later referred to as ideal mental health.
• Her review and analysis resulted in six criteria and associated subcategories - attributes or criteria refers to the “ideal MH”
Criteria of Mental Health.

• There are six criteria of “the mentally healthy individual” proposed by Dr. Marie Jahoda in her monograph, Current Concepts of
Positive Mental Health.: These are her views on positive psychology:
(Books: Positive Psychology by Compton; An advanced lifespan odyssey by Erford)
1. Positive attitudes toward self/Attitude towards self:

• An important indicator of positive MH is one’s attitude toward oneself. Self confidence, self reliance, independence, initiative and self
esteem are all indicators of positive MH. Individuals who have a clear understanding about their own strengths and limitations,
coupled with a belief that their positive attributes outweighs their negative attributes are morel likely to experience postive MH.
(Erford & Tucker)
• Addressed ideas such as self acceptance, self confidence, and self reliance
◦It includes four subcategories: (Compton & Hoffman)
‣ Adequate self awareness
‣ Accurate self concept
‣ Self acceptance:
‣ Positive and “globally benevolent” view of self
• A person must have some objectivity about the self and realistic aspirations that necessarily change with age. A healthy person also
must have a sense of identity, wholeness, belongingness, security, and meaningfulness.
2. Growth, self-actualization and resilience

• It concerns with what an individual does over time. Similar to Maslow’s concept of self actual inaction, this aspect of positive

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Mental Health

Criteria of Mental Health.

(Books: Positive Psychology by Compton; An advanced lifespan odyssey by Erford)

1. Positive attitudes toward self/Attitude towards self:

2. Growth, self-actualization and resilience

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