PERMA Theory on Well-being

Erika Mae P. Silva
Volunteer

In Touch Volunteers attended Bridging Mental Health: The Pursuit of Well-being webinar series by Makati Medical Center, last October 2022. From these webinars, we came to learn many key mental health facts and information. Erika Mae P. Sila shares her takeaways here:

On the last day of the 3rd Webinar Series on Mental Health conducted by the Makati Medical Center (MMC) Department of Neurosciences - Section of Psychiatry, Dr. Lovie Hope Go-Chu talked about Positive Psychiatry. 

One common misconception is that Positive Psychiatry is concerned with happiness, well it is a part of it, however it is more than that. Positive psychiatry is focused on well-being, it is the scientific study of optimal human functioning. Martin Seligman, Father of Positive Psychology, identified five building blocks towards the achievement of well-being and flourishing known as the PERMA.
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​In addition to PERMA, here are some ways on how to be happy and enhance our well-being:

Developing optimism 
Optimism and toxic positivity are two different things. Filipinos are known to be happy people, always full of smiles despite hardships,even in the midst of a disaster. Being a positive person is an important attitude that one should develop to achieve happiness but this positivity should be realistic in order for it to be healthy, or else it would lead to toxic positivity. It is not enough that we are trying to be happy in whatever circumstance we are in because it will not be helpful for our total well-being. 

Avoiding Social Comparison
“Keeping up with the Joneses” or comparing yourself to other people will not really help you and it will prevent you from giving most of your energy into improving yourself and doing what you actually want. 

Being Socially Connected
Filipinos are family oriented but it is also possible to not have a good relationship with your family members however social connectedness does not really need to be fulfilled just within your family, this can also be achieved by reaching out to friends, joining organizations, support groups, and being a volunteer.