Abstracts from the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiarty and Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health

Positive Psychiatry is a branch of our field dedicated to the science of wellbeing.Applied positive psychiatry to address the complexities of seniors' mental healthcare is more relevant than ever.This symposium will review the Fountain of Health, a promising practice recommended by the Mental Health Commission of Canada to promote seniors' mental health.A new model called the "THRIVE Approach to Wellbeing" will be introduced.An evidence-based 3-step approach successfully used in a national KT project to promote behaviour change and wellbeing will be reviewed.Positive psychiatry training, tools and resources available through the new Thrive Learning Centre will be shared. Relevance of Positive Psychiatry to Address Complexities in Seniors Mental Healthcare: Introducing the THRIVE Approach to WellbeingBackground: Positive Psychiatry is a newer branch of our field dedicated to the science of wellbeing.In the context of complexities in seniors' mental healthcare-from population aging to ageism, the pandemic, rising healthcare costs and burnout among providers-applied positive psychiatry is more relevant to seniors' healthcare than ever. Methods:The rationale for applied positive psychiatry to redress complexities in seniors' mental healthcare will be presented.The "THRIVE Approach to Wellbeing," a positive psychiatry approach to promote wellbeing in healthcare, will be reviewed.The model modifies the "PERMA" model of positive psychology to integrate with lifestyle medicine, health behaviour change, brain neuroplasticity and 4th wave CBT methods. Results:The acronym THRIVE includes 6 evidence-based areas to promote wellbeing: Thoughts, Health habits, Relationships, Interests, Valued Goals and Emotions.The evidence for each of these domains to promote brain health and wellbeing will be reviewed. Conclusions:Positive psychiatry is an important branch of our field to address healthcare complexities and improve outcomes.The THRIVE Approach to Wellbeing is a new model that puts positive psychiatry science into practice. Applied Positive Psychiatry in Canada: The Fountain of Health AssociationBackground: Fountain of Health Association is a national non-profit project in applied positive psychiatry to promote brain health and wellbeing.Methods: A national knowledge mobilization project to share Fountain of Health behaviour change using a 3-step approach in frontline care was led by the Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health.Over 2000 clinicians were trained to use the approach, among whom over 800 clinicians used the tools in practice. Results:Paper-based and electronic health behaviour change tools were used in the Brain Health and Wellness project.Among patients who used these tools, 80% reported improved health behaviours and greater wellbeing in four weeks.Implications of these results for wider scale up are discussed.Conclusions: National scaling of applied positive psychiatry tools to promote brain health and wellbeing led to uptake into clinician practice and translation into patient health behaviours and wellbeing.