Exploring Positive Mental Health

The phrase Positive Mental Health (PMH) may sound like the new buzz term, but rest assured it’s a concept that has been around for many years. Positive mental health is a stop along a continuum of mental health that resides just above an early stage of mental unhealthiness and just before the stage of thriving. It exists as its own state of health and well-being where a person experiences social and emotional stability, efficiently engages in daily occupations, effectively manages physiological and psychological wellness, moderates digital exposure, and regulates and maintains stress and resilience.

Achieving a state of positive mental health allows a person to enjoy life while meeting challenges on a daily basis. Most children and adolescents require support from another who experiences PMH to reach that state on the continuum. This type of support can be offered as a framework consisting of consulting, coaching, education, promotion, and advocacy. This framework suggests a shift of mindset and culture that focuses on identifying and providing supports for mental health before mental health needs arise. This is quite different from the reactive responses we are accustomed to.

Various programs exist to support PMH initiatives for school-aged children.

Every Moment Counts (EMC) is one such program. EMC is a fabulous resource filled with various concepts and programs that foster a PMH shift in school culture. These programs use embeddable strategies with a multi-tiered system of support to coach and educate administration, faculty, staff, and students. EMC programs require facilitation from an occupational therapy practitioner who has been trained in implementation.

Vantage Educational Services offers coaching and training of school personnel to implement PMH programming, including Every Moment Counts. Additional resources offered include training on leisure-based afterschool programming, digital health and safety, and peer-relational coaching. Further, Vantage Educational Services has a consistent finger on the pulse of national and local grants and legislation available to support PMH initiatives in schools and communities. Be sure to check emails and our social media regularly for updates!