Another tool that proved to be useful in strengthening of mental health is Positive psychology. It encourages focusing on our inner strengths, relating with other people; enjoying the good in life and finding pleasure in things we find meaningful.

The three pillars of positive psychology are (Harvard Health, n.d.):

• connecting with others
• savoring pleasure
• developing a sense of gratitude

Positive psychology’s focus on human capacities (actual and potential) provides a valuable lens through which we can begin to understand how people can cope with, and grow through, times of crisis (Waters et al., 2022). It can be used a tool to combat high levels of stress through the intentional use of adaptive coping strategies. Interventions can be used to help increase the experience of positive cognitions and positive emotions that in turn help people bolster their mental health.

Moreover, self-compassion can serve as a powerful tool to cope with stressors and it buffers negative effects of suffering. It does so by having people be more willing to experience difficult feelings and acknowledge them as valid and important (Allen & Leary, 2010 as cited in Waters et al., 2022). Findings suggest that the more we support ourselves intentionally when confronting difficult feelings, the more resilient will we be in the long term. The good news is that it can be learned and through it we can help reduce illbeing and promote wellbeing.

Additionally, positive interpersonal processes such as sharing laughter and being loved are fueled by positive emotions and have the potential to impact the people participating in the interaction. High quality connections are associated with bouldering against depression and illness symptoms while bolstering mental health (Major et al., 2018 as cited in Waters et al., 2022).