**Winner of 2015 Best e-Poster**: Optimal Health Program: a psycho-educational wellbeing program transforming research to reality

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By September 2, 2015 No Comments

Authors: Helen Wilding, Gaye Moore, David Castle, Chantal Ski

Year: 2015

Event: 2015 TheMHS Conference

Subject: eposter,

Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers

Abstract: This e-Poster won the 2015 Award for Best e-Poster for it's Creativity, Rigour/ Evidence and Clarity of message.

The Optimal Health Program (OHP) is the result of years of research which builds on an individual's strengths and promotes self-efficacy and hope. OHP can be conducted as a group or individually by trained people over a number of weeks. It explores the domains of wellbeing and what this means to a wide audience who may include consumers, carers or health practitioners. OHP offers a framework that supports a conversation about wellbeing rather than illness and the opportunity to reflect, write down ideas and respond to an individual?s needs without having to give solutions.

This poster summarises the history and research that demonstrates best practice and supports a recovery orientated approach. The slides will establish a clear link between the research and practical application of this psycho-educational wellbeing program. The presentation will highlight the diverse use of OHP across acute and community mental health services, people with chronic disease and their carers, workplace programs and finally reaching a broader international audience.

In 2014 OHP established a partnership with the Australian Catholic University, Swinburne University and University of Melbourne to explore OHP in chronic disease and carers. This underpins a five year program of research and translation into practice.