XGBCYP5212 Mental Health Today - Literature Review Amira Case Study

Positive psychology intervention challenges and rationale

The rationale for a positive psychological intervention is given in favour of Amira’s present residence in the UK, which favours her long-term growth and development through continued assistance from service providers into her adult life (Bolier et al., 2013). Her current age of 14 is also indicative of a potential for intervention through positive psychology, as psychological interventions are more receptive among children and young teenagers compared to adults whose psychological profile has become more solidified and set in its conditioned way of thought and perception (Higa-McMillan et al., 2016). This makes salutogenesis more effective as a front-line method of intervention for Amira (Bolier et al., 2013). The differences in national culture between Syria and the UK indicate a greater success likelihood for Amira in her present location in the UK, as the UK individualism and power distance dimensions are more progressive and individualistic, as well as egalitarian, supporting such interventions for Amira’s well-being (Hofstede Insights, 2023).

Discussion

Explaining resilience interventions for Amira

Firstly, strategies for coping towards self-efficacy can be taught for Amira to develop a basic level of resilience. These strategies will enable her to maintain momentum in resilience by limiting the vulnerability to self-isolation through inertia in her individual life (Elmer et al., 2020). The case study notes that Amira acts withdrawn and reserved in her school life as well as in her personal life, raising concerns among her family members. Developing a habit of a positive mental attitude will enable Amira to increase her resilience outcomes. The generation of positive emotions forms one of the five dimensions of Seligman’s ideas of self-care under the PERMA model (Seligman, 2018).

Secondly, Amira can develop the habit of facing problems and overcoming difficulties in an action-driven manner that is distinct from her avoidance-type behaviour through self-isolation. Such interventions will develop resilience as an effort to capitalise on individual “strengths and assets” for increasing her recovery from PTSD (Park, 2012). The performance of self-isolation leads to greater internal withdrawal of Amira, reducing opportunities for interactions and interventions with external individuals (Liu et al., 2022). As Amira is a victim of strife and wartime bombing from Syria, she should be given the opportunity for positive adaptation through positive psychological intervention (Liu et al., 2022). The development of self-awareness will enable her self-regulation of thought and behaviour, increasing her propensity for being proactive and action-taking over self-isolating and reactive. This satisfies the second dimension of engagement from Seligman’s PERMA model of positive psychology (Seligman, 2018).

Thirdly, positive adaptation requires forming sustainable and positive influence through social support across formal and informal institutions. Amira must develop positive relationships for social support among her family and friends at school. This will ensure she has the opportunity to seek emotional support and open up about her experiences, which will reduce her tendency for self-isolation (Rubin et al., 2004). The case study notes that Amira’s reactivity to loud noises influences her likelihood of being withdrawn; this can result in Amira avoiding high-energy social interactions at school and elsewhere. Therefore, it is recommended to begin with an introversion approach to connect Amira with introverted peers at school, as it will be a sustainable source of social support that coincidentally shares a similar dislike for loud noises and forms connectivity for bonding experience (Rubin et al., 2004). This satisfies the third dimension of positive relationships under Seligman's PERMA model (Seligman, 2018).

Fourthly, Amira can develop meaningful experiences in her personal life by attaining a common source of well-being. Her cultural background may provide a means for sharing meaning by developing religious or spiritual connections, possibly with the help of community leaders, clubs and groups (Torralba et al., 2021). Her state of vulnerability requires attention to developing a psychologically fulfilling sense of elevation to create the basis for resilience, and studies have shown that religious practices and spirituality are positive sources for developing resilience through belief in higher faith (Torralba et al., 2021). It will also inspire optimism and a greater likelihood of permanency in resilience, as CBT interventions through spirituality offer such outcomes. This satisfies the fourth dimension of meaning under Seligman's PERMA model (Kovich et al., 2022).

Lastly, the fifth dimension of accomplishments under Seligman’s PERMA model can be satisfied by developing positive life experiences (Kovich et al., 2022). In Amira’s case, volunteering to work in local animal shelters is a highly beneficial approach to developing a positive psychological response. This will develop Amira’s resilience in a positive manner by leveraging empathy and gratitude to increase her psychological wellbeing (Lasota et al., 2020). Her present vulnerability offers her an opportunity to empathise with similar vulnerabilities that shelter animal’s exhibit, owing to their unfortunate circumstances such as being rescued from abusive owners (Ballard et al., 2021). Amira can develop constructive habits and accomplishments by caring for shelter animals in this way, and transmute her anxiety by helping out vulnerable animals in shelters (Ballard et al., 2021). This approach will also help her to introspect her anxiety condition more responsibly and gain greater self-awareness and self-regulation, which leads to the development of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence, in turn, gives individuals a higher level of resilient psychological behaviour which is an advantage for Amira as well (Collado-Soler et al., 2023).

Conclusion

The essay has discussed positive psychology-based intervention strategies for the case of Amira, through the PERMA dimensions of positive psychology by Martin Seligman. The interventions ensure that different areas of interventions are considered for Amira’s case, as they attend to her basic mental health needs of emotional support and a sense of community. To this end, the suggested interventions account for the development of friends across introverted peers at school, as well as increasing her emotional support resiliency by volunteering to serve at animal shelter homes. In addition, the interventions also consider the pillars of positive psychology such as positive experiences, traits and institutions. The positive experiences will be developed by Amira through her continued association with like-minded peers and developing practices at her volunteering responsibilities, while her traits for self-awareness and self-regulation will instil a higher level of emotional intelligence. This will allow her to develop sustained resiliency for maintaining her positive experiences in different formal and informal social institutions such as her household and school.

The case of Amira features multiple considerations for cross-cultural adjustments, as well as her uniquely traumatic experiences compared to her peers. Her continued growth and development in the UK will allow her to experience more opportunities for positive development, as indicated by the national cultural dimensional differences between the UK and her Syrian origins. Consideration of this factor was noted in the essay before developing the positive psychology interventions, ensuring cultural differences are accounted for while maintaining relevancy for Amira’s case.

References

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