Positive Psychology and Hope as Means to Recovery from Mental Illness

Abstract

The field of psychiatric rehabilitation has seen a paradigm shift in its perceptions of symptom reduction, recovery, and restoration of personal-growth and -development. Recovery is subjective in nature, as no two individuals achieve identical rehabilitation outcomes; the process is dynamic and influenced by an array of personal and environmental factors, all of which can facilitate a deeply personal, unique progression that changes one's attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills, and roles. The concept of positive psychology is relevant to the perception from mental illness. Positive psychology seeks to understand what makes life worth living and encourages the use of mental strengths that reside in every human to confront challenges and create meaningful life experiences. Among the constructs of positive psychology, hope is one the most important concerning recovery, as it is directly tied to whether one believes that one's recovery is feasible. Having a sense of hope can enhance one's motivation to engage in the recovery process. The application of positive psychology, especially the concept of hope and recovery-oriented interventions in real-life rehabilitation settings can enormously benefit the well-being of people with mental illness.