Positive psychology and its role within mental health nursing

This is the second article in a series of Continuing Professional Development papers that explores the meaning of positive psychology and the importance of applying the latest research findings for the wellbeing of the mental health workforce. There will be an historical outline of positive psychology showing it is not as ‘ new’ as we might think. It sets the context and explains key terms through the underpinning theoretical work of Martin Seligman. This is followed by a contemporary lens on the topic in mental health nursing as the growing field of research shares its finding on taking the potential to the actual in making new skills via neuroplasticity. The practical element will help us to understand what happiness means to the individual and how it can be developed with evidence based user-friendly effective exercises