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Historically, medical models of mental health have focused on the amelioration of symptoms of psychopathology. Mental health, however, is more than the absence of mental illness. The World Health Organization emphasises positive dimensions of mental health, including feeling and functioning well as individuals and in our communities. The dual-continua model suggests that mental wellbeing and mental illness reflect two related, yet distinct dimensions. Hence, mental health measurement and interventions ought to consider both of these dimensions.

In this talk, we will be presenting recent findings from the Be Well Research Group (a partnership between Flinders University Órama Institute and SAHMRI Wellbeing Resilience Centre). First, we will introduce how we measure mental health when considering both dimensions, mental wellbeing and psychological distress. Second, we will present the development and evaluation of the Be Well Plan, a novel, facilitated program which aims to improve mental health and wellbeing by allowing participants to tailor the program to their needs and preferences. The program can be delivered both in-person and online, and has proven its efficacy and scalability.

In summary, we present that considering both dimensions of mental wellbeing and psychological distress in mental health measurement and interventions has important implications for health care systems including the identification of vulnerable groups, as well as broad dissemination of a prevention and early intervention approach.

Dr Dan Fassnacht

Dr Dan Fassnacht is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, and an Associate Research Fellow at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide. Dan is leading the Be Well Research Group, a partnership between Flinders Órama Institute for Mental and Wellbeing and SAHMIR Wellbeing and Resilience Centre. He has extensive academic experience having held five teaching and research appointments internationally over a twelve-year period.

Dan’s primary research interest is at the intersection of mental wellbeing and mental illness. In his research, he both measures positive levels of mental health namely psychological wellbeing and resilience as well as symptoms of psychological distress. This allows him to develop, evaluate and disseminate technology-based mental health interventions to improve both mental health and wellbeing in our communities as well as in vulnerable groups. Dan’s research has attracted significant funding from a variety of funding schemes (e.g., Movember, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation) and he has published his work extensively.

Dr Kathina Ali

Dr Kathina Ali is a Registered Psychologist, Research Fellow at the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work at Flinders University and Research Associate at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide. Kathina completed her PhD (Clinical Psychology) at the Australian National University in 2020 investigating help-seeking barriers and online peer-to-peer support for eating disorders. In 2021, Kathina received the Flinders University Vice Chancellor’s Award for Early Career Researchers.

As a core member of the Be Well Research Group, she has significant expertise and experience in developing, implementing and disseminating digital interventions (e.g., Internet-based programs, Podcasts) for the promotion of wellbeing and the prevention and early intervention of mental health problems in Europe and Australia. She also has a specific research and clinical interest in the area of eating disorders. Kathina has attracted national and international grant funding to support her research and has published widely high impact journals.