The How to ThriveThis documentary is now showing in cinemas. It follows seven people who learn to thrive and survive.
The documentary is aligned with “positive psychology“, which aims at providing people with the skills to help their mental health.
Positive psychology is something I am passionate about and served as an expert advisor to the documentary. This included assessing the participants’ progress over the 18-month period.
My analysis shows that participants were able to thrive using evidence-based strategies, which in turn led to them feeling and functioning well in many areas of their lives.
There are many lessons for everyone. These are the lessons we learned during film-making that you can use to improve your life.
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The process
Just before the beginning of the filming, the production began. pandemic. Twelve people from diverse backgrounds – all with varying degrees of mental illness – took part. Two-day retreat brought everyone together and set the stage for the journey ahead.
As a condition of being in the program, each participant had to have their own psychiatric support. A clinical psychologist was also involved in the oversight of the program.
The lockdown then began.
Zoom helped participants connect, creating a sense community and a sense belonging. Participants were shown evidence-based strategies for improving their lives and recorded their progress on their smartphones.
Participants learned all about their experiences. Character strengthsA vision board that reflects the best of your personality and makes you feel authentic, engaged and fulfilled. self-compassionWe identified what was good about their lives and why.
They were also given activities and received coaching individually.
The final cut included seven of the original 12 participants. This was based on the stories that allowed the producers to discuss a range and variety of mental health conditions.
How I evaluated their progress
I collected data on participants’ experiences, mental illness, well-being.
Participants saw major improvements in their lives over eight months and felt the benefits. These benefits were continued over the following 10 months.
Let’s look at a scale that goes from -10 (to indicate severe mental distress) up to +10 (to indicate total happiness).
Participants went on average from -3.2 (mild to moderate distress) up to +5.4. Even a 1-point improvement is possible. Statistically significant. We saw an increase of 8 points in the scores, which clearly showed that participants were happy and making clinically significant gains.
March 2020 to April 2020 were the most significant changes, which was during the documentary’s main intervention time. However, the improvements did not stop over the next 17-months.
Participants felt happier with their lives, more optimistic, more connected, and had a greater sense of belonging. Participants reported feeling less stressed and lonely, and their physical health improved.
Participants felt less helpless. They felt more supported by their peers and provided more support for others. They had more skills, resources, motivation, and will to live well.
These are the results studies suggesting happiness does not just happen – it’s a skill that can be learned and developed, with the right aims and supports in place.
What could be more?
Although seven participants were selected for the final cut, all 12 of the original 12 participated in the assessments in the first 12 month. All participants experienced significant improvements in mental health and well-being during the intervention period.
One participant who didn’t engage in the intervention activities and remained away from the group did not notice any improvements.
The documentary may have shown that participants received psychiatric support. Although each participant had many years of experience with psychiatrists and psychologists, they still struggled to overcome their mental illnesses.
This indicates that the intervention brought additional benefits to mental health care.
Studies Please suggestPositive psychology interventions can improve wellbeing and decrease symptoms Depression.
But, it is not clear how positive psychology interventions compare to usual mental health care. There is no evidence to support the addition of positive psychology to regular mental care.
Positive psychology interventions were primarily used with individuals. Without moderate-to-severe mental illness. This experiment had a remarkable aspect: it included positive psychology in the usual care for people. With moderate-to-severe mental illness.
What can we learn from this?
This documentary outlines several key strategies to improve mental health and well-being.
1. Find your tribe
Participants created a community throughout the documentary. We are naturally wired to need each other. belonging. In contrast, loneliness This article relates toYou can suffer from mental and physical illnesses and even death. You should find people you feel connected with, and not just superficial “friends”.
2. Get involved in meaningful activities
According to studies, engagement in lifeHealthy aging is a key indicator. This is not about merely gliding along life but actually consuming every ounce of it. It means finding and committing activities that fill you up, and that give you a feeling of life.
3. Be compassionate
Be compassionateYou are responsible for your actions and those of others. Sometimes we are our worst critics. We try our best. Give yourself a kind word and show kindness to others.
4. Be optimistic
Be Be optimistic and positiveThe future is possible. While things might not always go our way, it is possible to be open-minded and see the possibilities.
5. Take care of yourself
NurtureYour physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise moderately, and engage in activities that improve your ability to feel and function.
Be careful
Positive psychology interventions can be a great help, but they are far from being a panacea. The documentary only showed that positive psychology interventions worked for people who were actively involved in them and had good connections with others.
Each participant had one or more mental illness. Positive psychology was not meant to replace traditional psychiatric support. They worked hand-in-hand.
The documentary tells a hopeful tale of recovery. However, if you’re struggling with mental illness it is important to reach out to additional support such as your psychiatrist, psychologist, or GP.
Lifeline is available at 13 1 14.
Peggy KernAssociate Professor, Centre for Positive Psychology The University of Melbourne
If you have concerns about the story or need to talk to someone, This list will help you find a 24/7 crisis hotline for your country. Please reach out to us.
This article was republished by The ConversationUse the Creative Commons license Please read the Original article.
