'Immunise' young for better mental health, says SA Thinker in Residence Dr Martin Seligman
SOUTH Australian children are set to be immunised against mental illness - not through a jab but changing the way they think and talk.
SOUTH Australian children are set to be immunised against mental illness - not through a jab but changing the way they think and talk.
Thinker in Residence Dr Martin Seligman's final report, Building the State of Wellbeing, will be released on Friday and recommends SA be the first in the world to "deliberately measure and build the wellbeing of all citizens to reduce mental illness, increase resilience and enable every citizen to flourish".
Premier Jay Weatherill has thrown his support and $800,000 behind the grandiose plan which would begin by measuring the wellbeing of school children and implementing teaching strategies akin to cognitive therapy.
"It's a shift in thinking...rather than treating illness it's about why do (some) people not have illness, why are they well. Looking at how successful people behave and how they think and try and encourage that pattern of thinking," Mr Weatherill said.
"I think there are good prospects of turning this into a reality."
Lead partners in the residency, the final to rely on government funding, were the Education Department, St Peter's College and SA Health.
Dr Seligman, an expert in positive psychology, said psychology had focused on repairing damage, like medicine for a disease, but that positive psychology focused on the strengths and character of the individual to help build resilience to overcome challenges and promote wellbeing.
He recommended SA children be measured using five wellbeing indicators - positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment - called PERMA.
He said positive psychology skills taught as a stand alone curriculum in pastoral care classes had a significant role to play while reinforcing the skills such as character strengths and meditation could be infused into current school subjects such as English, arts, language, health and religion.
"In this way we not only begin the process of immunising young people against mental illness, but through engaging with parents we also start build wellbeing in the community," Dr Seligman said.
Other key recommendations include:
ESTABLISH a Wellbeing Institute to execute and international agenda.
DEVELOP a workforce capable of teaching wellbeing: managing measurement, teaching
positive psychology interventions and managing the evaluation of the interventions.
MEASURE wellbeing regularly, starting with children then developing a test for adults, which would in itself raise the profile of the skills.
ESTABLISH a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology at an SA university.
Mr Weatherill said the government would commit $800,000 over four years toward initiatives such as rolling out a wellbeing measurement tool to 175 schools and creating community wellbeing hubs at northern suburbs schools.
The government would also work with the new SA Health and Medical Research Institute on its mind and brain research to create the Wellbeing Institute.
"I understand the scepticism but this is actually quite hard edged, this is all seriously tested and expert peer reviewed," Mr Weatherill said.
"I think most of us have the common sense about modern existence that life is getting quicker and tougher and I think preparing our children to be more resilient in a fast changing modern world where there are lots of challenges just makes sense."
WHAT THE OTHER THINKERS IN RESIDENCE SUGGESTED:
Carla Rinaldi
2012
Childhood and education
AN expert in child-centred curriculum and president of the global Reggio Children movement, based in Italy, Prof Rinaldi released her report "Re-imagining Childhood: The inspiration of Reggio Emilia education principals in South Australia'' this week.
It urges a rethink of childhood and learning.
Recommendations included altering the wording of legislation and practices to recognise that children learn from birth.
The report says early education should be changed into two distinct learning groups, from birth to three and from three to six.
Prof Rinaldi also suggests introducing recognised qualifications in teaching and learning for those working with children in these brackets.
UniSA early childhood education expert Lesley-Anne Ey agreed with the idea and said changing the name of child care centres to learning and development centres was another potential option.
The Reggio Emilia Approach to education is a child-centred curriculum based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community, developed in the Italian city of Reggio Emilia after World War II.
OUTCOME: The State Government has set up the Every Chance for Every Child Senior Officers' group to assess Prof Rinaldi's recommendations.
Alexandre Kalache
2011-12
Ageing, care and cultural attitudes to old age
DR Kalache's report, released in April, recommended - among other suggestions - incorporating "age-friendly'' principals into population health planning and state-wide health strategies, housing and the metropolitan and rural public transport system. He also said age-friendly principles should be incorporated in the development of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Specialising in ageing and the course of life, health promotion, human rights and aged care, De Kalache recommended the state's health authorities integrate a standard health care service, particularly for frail, older citizens, and develop ways to retain older workers, which should include flexible workplace practises
OUTCOME: Premier Jay Weatherill commended Dr Kalache's report as containing "revolutionary ideas and suggestions for a more age-friendly society''.
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SUSAN GREENFIELD
2004-2005
Science, society and the future
BARONESS Professor Greenfield was one of the most high-profile Thinkers and provided insights into the human brain, from how it works to the degenerative diseases of ageing and the effects of common drugs.
OUTCOME: Her residency led to a $12 million investment in the Royal Institution of Australia (RIAus), launched in October 2009, and a scholarship for 50 students from low socio-economic backgrounds to travel to London to attend the Royal Institution of Great Britain's renowned Christmas Lectures.
Fred Hansen
2009-2010
Public transport
MR Hansen's recommendations included extending the tram network and making Grenfell St a public transport-only thoroughfare.
RAA public affairs general manager Penny Gale said Mr Hansen had "come up with some good ideas" but they were often city-focused.
OUTCOME: Mr Hansen sparked a study of public knowledge about the Government's 30-year urban development plan for greater Adelaide. Last year, Mr Hansen was appointed to head the new Urban Renewal Authority, to oversee housing projects as well as expansion of the public transport network.
Goran Roos
2011
Manufacturing
PROFESSOR Roos' report, titled "Manufacturing into the Future", was released in March last year, setting future directions for the manufacturing industry in SA. His blueprint to avoid the decline of manufacturing in SA has also received industry backing. Premier Jay Weatherill has described recommendations in his report as "frank analysis" and has made it a government priority to shift the state's focus from traditional to advanced manufacturing.
Outcome: The Government has acted on a number of his recommendations including establishing a manufacturing hub at Tonsley Park and committing funding for an advanced manufacturing strategy for SA. Mr Roos continues to work with the Government on the future of Holden.
Rosanne Haggerty
2005-06
Social housing and homelessness
MS Haggerty instigated Common Ground Adelaide which offered affordable rental housing for homeless people or those on low incomes, in mixed community settings.
OUTCOME: There are three Common Ground sites - in Franklin St and Light Square, city, and Port Augusta - costing more than $16 million. The model has been used interstate.
Fraser Mustard
2006-2007
Early childhood development
DR Mustard's residency contributed heavily to the state's early childhood policy.
UniSA lecturer in education Dr Christy Ward said Dr Mustard "really raised the profile of early childhood education".
OUTCOME: Then Treasurer Jack Snelling said Dr Mustard prompted the Government's "world renowned" children's centres that deliver preschool, childcare, health, family and community services in the one place. Other initiatives include a new early childhood leadership postgraduate qualification and an Australian Early Development Index in all Australian schools.
Laura Lee
2009
Sustainable design
PROFESSOR Lee's residency focused on integrated design principles and the impact of the built environment on quality of life. OUTCOME: Following her recommendations, the Government established an Integrated Design Commission.
Professor Lee was initially appointed to head the commission but the Government later decided it could not wait for her to return to Adelaide (because of the importance of the looming Riverbank overhaul) and the Government appointed former Australian Institute of Architects SA president Tim Horton to head the commission. It then later scrapped the commission.
Charles Landry
2003
Vibrant city of Adelaide
AN English urban renewal expert, Mr Landry suggested a "tripartite" metropolitan council system, cutting down the current 19 councils. He also expressed disappointment with Adelaide's attitude, saying it was "a city that speaks far more passionately about the negatives rather than celebrating achievement". He went on to say "Adelaide has an inferiority complex, which some say makes the city feel suffocating rather than liberating".
OUTCOME: The State Government committed to making Adelaide a "vibrant" city as one of its priorities, for example by allowing more public holiday trading in the city - but this shift came long after Mr Landry's residency.