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Unleashing prevention and reaching the masses with a positive mental wellness museum

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Unleashing prevention and reaching the masses with a positive mental wellness museum

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Content Running head: POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 1
Unleashing Prevention and Reaching the Masses with a Positive Mental Wellness Museum
Gina L. Pincosy
University of Southern California
May 2019
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 2
Abstract
Mental illness-focused programs fail to prevent the most prevalent problems, perpetuating
wicked social issues that maintain mental health as the single most costly problem in the world.
Health and well-being require positive mental wellness (PMW), but only 20 percent of
Americans are “flourishing” with high PMW. Anyone below flourishing has a four times
increased risk of developing mental illness. The Grand Challenges for Social Work call for
increased prevention and settings-based programs that address the social and environmental
contexts required for well-being. Flourish Interactive Museum of Positive Mental Wellness is a
proposed innovation designed to answer those needs by helping the public learn to flourish,
increasing PMW, and preventing common problems like anxiety, depression, risky behaviors,
violence, crisis, and suicide. The proposed innovation incorporates best practices from nutrition
and wellness architecture, while also introducing a new therapeutic shop and cafe brand called
Theralicious®. The innovation lies in the public service delivery model, the novel museum
setting, the multi-disciplinary strategy, a mental health brand with consumer appeal, and co-
located holistic wellness experiences. Flourish Interactive aims to: 1) Engage people in pursuing
PMW as a normal, desirable daily priority; 2) Bypass stigma and other barriers to participation;
and, 3) Reach the masses through appealing public interventions. Should the pilot exhibits
deliver successful outcomes, the concept could be replicated in other communities with high
mental illness prevalence, provider shortages, low access to care, and other barriers to wellness.
Keywords: flourishing, flourish interactive, positive mental wellness, mental health
continuum, mental health innovation, therapeutic museum, mental wellness museum,
interventions in community context, interventions in novel settings, mental health and biophilic
design, mental health and the built environment, mental health and nutrition, theralicious
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 3
Unleashing Prevention and Reaching the Masses with a Positive Mental Wellness Museum
Introduction
Our Link to the Grand Challenges of Social Work
The Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative (GCSWI) calls for increased mental
health prevention efforts to increase healthy youth development (Hawkins et al., 2015) and the
development of settings-based programs that consider social and environmental contexts
required for health and well-being to close the health gap (Browne et al., 2017). The investigator
sees an opportunity to expand on GCSWI efforts by designing a stigma-free mental wellness
solution to reach the masses. The proposed project is called Flourish Interactive (FI), an
organization designed to become America’s first Museum of Positive Mental Wellness (PMW).
The FI Project’s Purpose and Innovation
The problem prompting the FI project is that American mental health programs and
funding are focused on serious mental illness, ignoring the mental wellness needs of a large
population of Americans who suffer from common problems such as everyday stress, anxiety,
depression, and addiction. The most recent research suggests that having mental health concerns
at some point during the lifespan is a nearly universal experience, affecting 80 percent or more of
the population (Keyes 2007a; Keyes 2007b; Schaefer, 2017). Meanwhile, only 20 percent of
Americans are flourishing with high PMW, and anyone whose level of PMW is below
flourishing has a four times increased risk of developing future mental illness (Keyes, 2013).
A study of the GCSWI publications and related literature revealed a gap in solutions that
reduce levels of mental illness and associated social problems by strengthening PMW across the
entire population. The investigator examined existing social norms and innovations and
determined the need to teach the public to flourish. This writer also noted the opportunity to
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 4
integrate practices from other disciplines such as nutrition and wellness architecture into FI’s
work. By combining approaches from multiple domains, the FI project is re-positioning PMW
outside of the existing mental health system, in a setting designed to: 1) Engage people in the
pursuit of PMW; 2) Bypass common barriers to participation such as stigma; and, 3) Reach the
masses through interventions adapted for public delivery.
The Problems We Are Addressing in the Context of Policy and Practice
For almost a decade, America’s National Prevention Strategy (2010) has emphasized the
importance of PMW and recommended that the healthcare system should:
1) Promote positive early childhood development…; 2) Facilitate social connectedness
and community engagement across the lifespan; 3) Provide individuals and families with
the support necessary to maintain positive mental well-being; and, 4) Promote early
identification of mental health needs and access to quality services. (p. 1.)
While these priorities have been in place for many years within policy, problems have
continued to grow, keeping our mental health system and its practices stuck in a mode of
controlling and treating people with mental illness. Overall health requires a strong foundation of
PMW, and the FI project endeavors to launch an innovation that makes the pursuit of PMW the
new norm. Increasing PMW has the potential to reduce anxiety, depression, risky behaviors,
violence, chronic medical conditions, and premature death (National Prevention Strategy, 2010).
How the Methodology Addresses Project Aims
The FI project is designed to make the pursuit of PMW a new norm, exposing families to
enjoyable therapeutic experiences and helping promote healthy development for the next
generation. The museum complex brings together multi-disciplinary health and lifestyle
experiences to promote social connectedness and engagement for people of all ages throughout
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 5
the community and region. The FI organization teaches guests how to practice positive mental
wellness while also ensuring convenient access to co-located integrated health.
Project Implementation and Future Action Steps
The aims of the FI project are to educate the public on PMW, encourage people to pursue
PMW, and provide PMW experiences that are stigma-free and enjoyable. The first phase of the
organization includes: 1) A website; 2) A marketing campaign called Learn to Flourish; 3) An
online tool to measure levels of PMW; 4) An application to create a personalized PMW plan; 5)
An online platform and database to support ongoing community-based participatory research; 6)
The development of marketing collateral including videos and graphics to communicate the
museum vision; and, 7) A formative study that measures the feasibility and acceptability of the
proposed museum. The study results will inform further investment into the organization’s
development. An iterative organizational launch plan with multiple revenue streams allows for
mitigation of financial risk as the project evolves from an online platform to a physical museum.
The Innovative Step Forward and Potential Implications Beyond a Local Context
The innovation of FI lies in the public service delivery model, the novel museum setting,
the multi-disciplinary and multi-modal intervention strategy, and the co-location of broader,
holistic experiences that increase well-being. The FI interventions will be replicated online, so
that anyone, anywhere can learn to flourish. Should the initial FI exhibits in Virginia deliver
successful outcomes, the concept could be replicated in other states with low provider to patient
ratios, high prevalence of illness, low access to care, and other system failures in mental health.
Conceptual Framework
The Grand Challenge Problem
The GCSWI provides a social agenda for solving 12 of the most intractable, longstanding
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 6
social problems affecting Americans today. The FI project endeavors to complement the GCSWI
by building upon the work of two grand challenges aimed at increasing individual and family
well-being. First, the “Ensure healthy development for all youth” initiative has informed FI’s
strategy for increasing public positive mental wellness through its call for behavioral healthcare
to shift toward promotion, prevention, and protection (Hawkins et al., 2015). Second, the “Close
the health gap” initiative has compelled this writer to take a leadership role in developing a
public, settings-based model of multi-disciplinary interventions that consider the social and
environmental contexts necessary for community health and well-being (Browne et al., 2017).
In studying the GCSWI publications and related literature, the investigator identified a
need for a mental health prevention solution that could engage the public, bypassing common
barriers to participation such as stigma. The investigator also recognized the importance of
reaching the masses through interventions adapted for public audiences. The FI project is
designed to leverage prevention, engage the public, and make the pursuit of PMW the new norm.
Problem overview. Nearly forty years ago, American public health leaders pointed out
that, although medical advances had shown success in treating illnesses, overall national health
had failed to improve, since behavioral, social, and environmental factors correlated with
premature disability and death had been ignored by healthcare and insurance systems (Ng, Davis,
Manderscheid, & Elkes, 1981). That dynamic still holds true today, with providers being more
focused on treating illness than on building or protecting wellness. Peoples’ mental wellness
needs are not addressed by the existing mental health system, because the system is problem-
focused, stigmatized, and does not reach the masses. The need to discover new ways to help
people increase or maintain high PMW has been clearly established in the empirical literature.
“The prevention of disease must be linked also to the promotion of positive health strategies.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 7
Telling people what not to do to avoid becoming sick is not enough. Our research must also help
us determine what we can do, in a positive way, to remain or to become healthy” (Ng, Davis,
Manderscheid, & Elkes, 1981, p. 48).
Leaders of the GCSWI have identified universal preventive interventions as the priority
to improve mental health outcomes (Hawkins et al., 2015). People who lack PMW are at
significantly increased risk of developing mental illness (Boniwell, David, Ayers & Keyes, 2013;
Keyes, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2014a; Keyes, Dhingra, & Simoes, 2010; Keyes, Eisenberg, Perry,
Dube, Kroenke & Dhingra, 2012). The deficit-based approach to treating mental health problems
has failed to stop the continually increasing burden and prevalence of disorders and their early
onset (Chisholm, Sanderson, Ayuso-Mateos & Saxena, 2004; Insel & Scolnick, 2006; Glied &
Frank, 2009). A person’s complete state of mental health, including levels of wellness and
illness, is dynamic across the lifespan, demanding ongoing prevention and protection (World
Health Organization, 2004; Keyes, 2013). Youth levels of PMW need improvement (Howell,
Keyes & Passmore, 2013; Land, 2012). Most Americans report worsening mental health
problems, barriers to treatment, and not receiving treatment (Mental Health America, 2018).
The theory of causation. Not meeting the needs of the broad population occurs because
the American mental health system works from a disease-based model. Promotion and
prevention are aimed at illness, and interventions are mostly limited to populations with serious
mental illness. Mental health organizations promote that one in five Americans experience
problems related to mental health (“Any Mental Illness,” n.d.; “Any Disorder Among Children,”
n.d.). This prevalence reporting fails to consider the low emotional, psychological, and social
well-being of most Americans. It also fails to reach people who do not seek help, as well as those
who do not officially report mental problems. In short, mental health programs are targeted to
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 8
specific groups of people with illness, and prevention does not reach the masses.
The PMW concept as it relates to the FI project. The term “flourishing” (Keyes, 2012,
p. 2164) is used to describe people having high levels of PMW. Levels of PMW include
measures of emotional well-being, and positive social and psychological functioning. To
facilitate multi-disciplinary engagement, this writer uses the term “positive mental wellness,” or
PMW, to clarify that flourishing is being examined specifically as it relates to mental health. The
investigator chose the name “Flourish” to emphasize that the project aims to help people learn
what flourishing with high PMW means and how it can be achieved. The word “Interactive” was
added to highlight that FI is not only modeling PMW experiences but also offering opportunities
for people to try, practice, and regularly participate in public therapeutic experiences that
increase levels of PMW.
How PMW is measured. The Mental Health Continuum – Short Form (MHC-SF), is a
brief 14-item instrument developed to measure PMW in a three-dimensional factor structure
assessing frequency of indicators of emotional, psychological, and social well-being over the
past month (Keyes, 2009). The MHC-SF is appropriate for use with youth ages 12 through 18
and adults over age 18, with no differences in questions or scoring between the two versions.
Keyes’ (2009) MHC-SF questionnaire asks:
During the past month, how often did you feel … 1) Happy; 2) Interested in life; 3)
Satisfied with life; 4) That you had something important to contribute to society; 5) That
you belonged to a community (like a social group, or your neighborhood); 6) That our
society is a good place, or is becoming a better place, for all people; 7) That people are
basically good; 8) That the way our society works makes sense to you; 9) That you liked
most parts of your personality; 10) Good at managing the responsibilities of your daily
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 9
life; 11) That you had warm and trusting relationships with others; 12) That you had
experiences that challenged you to grow and become a better person; 13) Confident to
think or express your own ideas and opinions; and, 14) That your life has a sense of
direction or meaning to it. (p. 3)
The first three items in the MHC-SF represent emotional well-being, the next five items
represent social functioning, and final six items represent psychological functioning (Keyes et
al., 2008; Keyes, 2009). The options for specifying the frequency of these experiences include:
never, once or twice, about once a week, about 2 or 3 times a week, almost every day, or, every
day (Keyes, 2009). People are “flourishing” with high PMW if they report experiencing at least
one of the three signs of emotional well-being in questions one through three, and at least six of
the 11 signs of positive social and /or psychological functioning in the remaining questions, with
a reported frequency of “every day” or “almost every day” during the past month (Keyes, 2013).
Psychometric properties of the MHC-SF. The MHC-SF has been shown to be valid
and reliable with good psychometric properties in several studies, including: 1) A 2011 study
with a random sample of 1,662 respondents from a Dutch community, where Cronbach’s alpha
was 0.89 for the MHC-SF scale, with 0.83 for the emotional well-being subscale, 0.83 for the
psychological subscale, and 0.74 for the social well-being subscale, showing consistent
correlations over time at three and nine months (Lamers, Westerhof, Bohlmeijer, Ten Klooster &
Keyes, 2011); 2) A 2016 study with two Portuguese samples including 208 elementary school
children and 216 middle school youths, which, though a small sample size, confirmed the
applicability of the MHC-SF from childhood through adulthood (De Carvalho, Pereira, Pinto, &
Maroco, 2016); 3) A sample of 387 Iranian university students, and a sample of 395 American
university students, where Cronbach’s alphas for the MHC-SF were .92 among Americans and
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 10
.87 among Iranians (Joshanloo, 2016); 4) Four different samples collected during 2013 totaling
2,115 adult students from Poland, where Cronbach’s alphas for the MHC-SF totaled .94, .91, .90,
and .84 for the four respective samples (Karas, Cieciuch & Keyes, 2014); 5) A random sample of
1,050 adults from South Africa that showed good construct validity with other measures of
subjective well-being, yielding an internal reliability of 0.74 for the overall scale, and confirming
the two-continua model that predicts the correlation between mental health and illness (Keyes,
Wissing, Potgieter, Temane, Kruger, Van Rooy, & Schmidt, 2008); and, 6) Earlier studies of
American samples (Keyes, 2006, 2007, 2008).
Evidence for the MHC-SF as an indicator of mental well-being. In addition to
showing good internal reliability, convergent validity of the MHC-SF has been demonstrated by
correlations between the three sub-scales and corresponding measures of functioning and well-
being (Lamers et. Al, 2010). A study of 23,674 students at 26 American universities used
exploratory structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis resulting in data
findings that supported the MHC-SF’s three-dimensional factor structure (Joshanloo, 2017).
Other instruments related to well-being, including the General Health Questionnaire, the Positive
and Negative Affect Schedule, and the Questionnaire for Eudaimonic Well-Being, were
administered in two of the four Polish study samples, confirming external validity of the MHC-
SF scale and its subscales with statistically significant correlations where p < .01 (Karaś et al.,
2014). Confirmatory factor analysis supported discriminant validity of the two continua model,
showing PMW as an indicator of mental well-being, which is separate but related to mental
illness, with moderate test-re-test reliability at three and nine months (Lamers et. Al, 2010).
Assessment of What is Known Within the Current Environmental Context
What we know from research about the need for PMW and what works. Across the
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 11
empirical literature, there is strong consensus on the impact of PMW and the need for solutions.
Research emphasizes that low levels of PMW in people of all ages are associated with personal
consequences negatively impacting effectiveness in responding to daily stressors; risk of
substance abuse; quality of relationships; attendance and performance at work and school;
suicide risk; and, overall health and well-being (Keyes, 2013). The consequences of low PMW
across the population contribute to the growth of massive, complex social problems, including:
disability; poverty; homelessness; child maltreatment; intimate partner and community violence;
crime; and, early mortality (Heller & Gitterman, 2011). The literature highlights the importance
of adopting intentional practices to maintain high PMW, pointing out that people who drop from
high to moderate PMW become four times as likely to develop mental illness (Keyes, 2013).
Recognizing mental health as measures of both illness and PMW. In a random sample of
3,032 American adults, mental health was demonstrated as a complete state measured along two
continua, where: 1) 17% had no mental illness and high PMW; 2) 51% had no mental illness and
moderate PMW; 3) 10% had no mental illness and low PMW; 4) 1% had mental illness and high
PMW; 5) 15% had mental illness and moderate PMW; and 6) 7% had mental illness and low
PMW (Provencher & Keyes, 2011). In a study examining the changing nature of mental health
over a twenty-year period in the same sample of 3,032 American adults, 46% of those with high
PMW in 1995 had moderate PMW in 2005, and 19% of those with moderate PMW in 1995 had
high PMW in 2005; while the percent of total people with high PMW only increased by 3.2%
between 1995 and 2005, many people experienced changes that offset each other, revealing the
need to promote and protect PMW (Boniwell, David, Ayers, & Keyes, 2013).
In a sample of 1,234 youth between the ages of 12 and 18, nearly 10% more middle
school youth than high school youth had high PMW, and most youth between the ages of 12 and
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 12
14 had high PMW (Keyes, 2006). Levels of PMW declined between ages 12 and 18, with the
correlation between age and measures of PMW over time being r = -.07 (p < .02) (Keyes, 2006).
Depressive symptoms were reported 7.4 times as often in youth with low PMW as compared to
youth with high PMW (Keyes, 2006), emphasizing the need to promote and protect PMW.
The focus on promotion, prevention, and protection. While the mental health system
historically addressed mental illness, a greater priority is now being placed on primary
prevention and promotion efforts to increase PMW, recognizing that the absence of mental
illness does not necessarily indicate the presence of PMW (Keyes, 2007). The presence of high
PMW can moderate future mental illness; however, “the latent factors of mental illness and
health correlate around -0.50, meaning only 25% of their variance is shared” (Keyes Dhingra &
Simoes, 2010, p. 2366). Thus, promotion and prevention efforts are imperative to increasing
PMW (Keyes, 2007b; Keyes, Dhingra & Simoes, 2010; Keyes, 2013). In 1978, the concept of a
community-based health promotion organization was proposed to reward healthy lifestyles, teach
people self-responsibility for health, and incentivize promotion and prevention “by stimulating a
closer working relationship among government, business, labor, and the medical care system”
(Ng, Davis, Manderscheid, & Elkes, 1981, p. 56). While promotion and prevention have been
positioned as priorities in policy and research, practice is still largely aimed at treating and
controlling illness. Broad public participation in mental wellness has not been achieved. To
address high insurance costs, companies have increasingly offered wellness and prevention
programs to their employees, but the mental health component continues to lag due to stigma.
Multi-disciplinary interventions supported across the literature. Systematic reviews
of the literature have shown that approaches from multiple disciplines contribute to increases in
PMW. Positive psychology interventions are effective in reducing negative emotions, increasing
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 13
subjective well-being, and decreasing stress (Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009; Bolier, Haverman,
Westerhof, Riper, Smit, & Bohlmeijer, 2013), and there is ample evidence to support positive
psychology’s efficacy, utility, and future steps in improving PMW (Vella-Brodrick, 2013). A
meta-analysis on mindfulness and meditation-based programs show positive effects on
psychological stress (Goyal et al., 2014), and mindfulness is referred to as a positive psychology
intervention that works for increasing mental well-being (Vella-Brodrick, 2013). A randomized
controlled trial using the mental health continuum (Keyes, 2002; 2007a; 2013) in conjunction
with mindfulness has been successful in promoting mental health (Fledderus, Bohlmeijer, Smit,
& Westerhof, 2010), and an online mental health continuum intervention has shown decreases in
mental health stigma (Schomerus, Angermeyer, Baumeister, Stolzenburg, Link, & Phelan, 2016).
Studies showing evidence for interventions effective in increasing PMW have been
published beyond mental health, including in the fields of nutrition and architecture. A global
movement in biophilic design leads the architecture field, with research highlighting mental
wellness benefits of architecture and design patterns that mimic nature (Browning, Ryan &
Clancy, 2014; Kellert & Calabrese, 2015). Nature is broadly promoted as a foundational element
to mental well-being (Howell & Passmore, 2013). Nutrition’s role in PMW has been well-
covered (Leyse-Wallace, 2013), with meta-analyses showing evidence for nutrition interventions
as standard care in mental health (Teasdale, Ward, Rosenbaum, Samaras, & Stubbs, 2017).
Progress toward PMW in the system and in practice. The literature shows that the
existing mental health system is incapable of adequately addressing the extent of low PMW for
several reasons, some specifically relevant to the FI project. First, there is continued growth of
mental health problems in parallel with a shortage of providers in the mental health workforce
(Walker, Berry III, Citron, Fitzgerald, Rapaport, Stephens, & Druss, 2015). Next, despite anti-
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 14
stigma campaigns and mental health promotion efforts, stigma associated with mental problems
and treatment remains high, resulting in under-reporting of mental problems and limited
participation in treatment (Bharadwaj, Pai, & Suziedelyte. 2017). Stigma also restricts the
placement of mental health services within communities (Satcher, Okafor, & Dill, 2012). Finally,
there is a clear need for prevention and promotion, and the mental health system’s priority is on
integrating mental health within primary care; this is a complex and extensive undertaking
(Talen, Burke Valeras, Cesare, 2013), leaving little funding and resources available to focus on
integrating evidence based practices (EBPs) from other disciplines or bringing mental health into
novel settings where consumers may be more likely to participate. Roughly forty years ago,
researchers on health and well-being called for rapid action, pointing out, “it seems odd that
more effort has not been directed toward the twin goals of prevention and promotion, the most
cost-effective policies in the long term” (Ng, Davis, Manderscheid, & Elkes, 1981, p. 57).
Innovation trends. Within the mental health system, there are many prevention
programs that are arguably innovative; however, since these carry the stigma inherent to the
mental health system, this writer’s work is focused on advances outside of the field.
Wellness thought leaders. Several innovative thought leaders with mass commercial
appeal have taken concepts related to PMW to the public through channels including books,
internet blogs, and software applications, delivering stigma-free branding and messaging.
Farnam Street, a self-help learning community created by Sam Farnam, includes an explanation
of 109 mental models people can use to understand the world; Farnam’s work is aimed at helping
people to think and act deliberately, openly, and in ways that make life meaningful (“Farnam
Street,” n.d.). Neuroscientist Sam Harris developed Waking Up, a multi-modal program
including a book, blog, podcast, and events aimed at helping audiences discover their minds
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 15
(“Waking Up,” n.d.). Dan Harris, co-anchor of ABC’s Nightline and weekend editions of Good
Morning America, has reached the public with his messaging on becoming 10 percent happier,
through a book, podcast interviews, and a software application promoting “Meditation for
Fidgety Skeptics” (“10% Happier,” n.d.). Dr. Rhonda Patrick is a well-being thought leader who
uses podcasts to deliver multi-disciplinary science-based health information aimed at helping
people make positive life changes (“Found My Fitness,” n.d.).
Arguably the most standout PMW thought leader of today is Dr. Brené Brown, a social
work researcher and expert speaker who has successfully turned previously stigmatized topics
like vulnerability into desirable pursuits with mass appeal; Dr. Brown’s books and recorded talks
have reached millions (Brené Brown, 2019), normalizing content that might otherwise only be
delivered in a therapeutic setting or a problem-focused format. The size and diversity of
audiences embracing Dr. Brown’s pioneering work demonstrate that the general public wants to
understand how to flourish emotionally, psychologically, and socially.
Mental health museums and exhibits. There are several museums on the topics of
psychology and mental health; however, they are largely focused on exhibiting the historical
aspects of famous psychologists, mental disorders, maltreatment of patients with mental illness,
scientific instruments, brain exhibits and neuroanatomy, asylums, and the evolution of mental
healthcare (Hanley, 2015). Mental health exhibits also exist; however, while they are labeled
positively in terms of health and wellness, the actual exhibits are focused on illness. At the
Science Museum of Minnesota, a mental health exhibit emphasizes the misunderstanding of
mental illness, lack of treatment, needless suffering, safe spaces for talking about mental illness,
and problems with stigma and misconceptions; this type of exhibit perpetuates that mental health
is not relevant to all, and it misses the opportunity to teach people how to increase PMW
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 16
(“Mental Health: Mind Matters,” n.d.). There are various art exhibits related to mental health,
allowing people to effectively express their mental states, giving them a voice, and promoting
creative arts as a healthy means of coping. While mental health art exhibits are often beautiful,
meaningful, and important representations of individuals who have turned personal challenges
into positive gifts for society, actionable PMW information or skills are not typically the focus.
Promising concepts in stigma-free mental wellness practices. Tht most highly adopted
innovations in PMW appear to be software applications designed for everyday use on mobile
devices. One example is the application called Calm, which delivers guided meditations, stories
to promote healthy sleep hygiene, music promoting relaxation, and lessons on mindfulness and
guided relaxation (Calm, n.d.). Calm has also expanded to airports through a partnership with
XpresSpa, where Calm’s products and services are sold (Calm, n.d.). Many other applications
promoting mindfulness, thought tracking, feeling tracking, and other techniques have emerged.
These innovations are primarily designed for individual consumption or information-sharing
with a provider or support person. So, the concept of reaching hundreds or thousands of people at
a time is not made visible to the public and, therefore, failing to quickly normalize participation.
Current environmental context. Across healthcare literature and national prevention
strategies, preventive mental wellness is linked to healthy lifestyles in policy; however, at a more
practical level, the integration of PMW as a foundational requirement for wellness is not evident.
In a panel discussion among experts from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (2013),
obesity and physical inactivity were discussed as core causes of medical problems; however,
there was no mention of mental health problems and their contribution to poor health. A review
of literature on therapeutic lifestyle changes emphasized the importance of nutrition, diet, access
to nature, enjoyable activities, relaxation and stress management in promoting mental wellness
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 17
(Walsh, 2011). However, the list of lifestyle changes did not acknowledge the fundamental level
of mental wellness needed for a person to effectively relax, manage stress, or pursue those
activities. It also failed to identify where or how to learn and adopt the recommended lifestyle
changes. The idea that Americans are well versed in healthy ways of relaxing and managing
stress is questionable. It appears that participation in some type of psychotherapy – at a
minimum, psychoeducation – could be a valuable addition to the list of recommended lifestyle
changes. It also seems necessary to include the intentional pursuit of PMW as a lifestyle change
that will increase PMW. To ensure adoption, the specific recommended lifestyle components
need to be packaged in a usable, accessible, replicable format rather than just being listed.
The investigator discovered ample studies covering prevalence of mental health stigma
and examined global anti-stigma campaigns. Most stigma reduction efforts seem to be aimed at
encouraging people to recognize the signs of mental illness, ask for help if needed, and be more
compassionate toward others who have serious illnesses such as schizophrenia. To achieve
effective stigma reduction and increases in treatment participation, people must become
motivated to pursue high PMW to benefit themselves, not just others.
The mental health continuum (Keyes, 2002) has been adopted in some mental health
promotion and stigma reduction efforts. However, there is a lack of research demonstrating
broad adoption of the belief that everyone has varying degrees of mental wellness and illness
throughout life, and the daily pursuit of positive mental wellness should be a normal, everyday
priority. An online mental health continuum intervention was shown to improve attitudes toward
people with mental illness (Schomerus, Angermeyer, Baumeister, Stolzenburg, Link, & Phelan,
2016); however, further research is needed to show broader participation, and a change in social
discourse is essential to get people to view mental health as a concept relevant to everyone.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 18
Social Significance of the Problem and Applied Implications
The importance of mental wellness to real people. Just because people do not have
psychopathology does not necessarily mean that they have enduring mental health (Schaefer et
al., 2017) or that they have high PMW (Lamers, Westerhof, Bohlmeijer, Klooster & Keyes,
2011). Likewise, anyone – including people with diagnosable mental disorders – can have high
PMW, experiencing some aspects of emotional well-being and positive psychological and social
functioning either every day or almost every day (Keyes, 2013). Anyone whose level of PMW
drops below flourishing is at four times greater risk for developing mental illness (Keyes, 2013),
causing the already troubling levels of mental illness to continue to grow unchecked.
Implications of applied public mental wellness. The key benefit of the FI project is that
it will promote PMW for the community that participates with physical or virtual exhibits. This
innovation could bridge the gap between the current mental health system and people who
previously would not have thought that pursuing PMW would be a personal priority. In addition
to serving as a destination, FI would serve as a center for community restoration.
As a community venue, FI would expand the reach of the current mental health system,
offering additional supportive services for people in treatment, recovery, or stepping down from
higher levels of care. The FI concept has the possibility of spreading the pursuit of PMW, driving
increases in whole community PMW, and reducing mental health crises, hospitalizations, and
tragedies like suicide. Since people who are flourishing with high PMW are four times less likely
to develop mental illness (Keyes, 2013), the FI project could reduce the burden of mental illness.
If the FI project is successful, it could be replicated in many other communities, altering the
dynamics of the social determinants of health in each location.
The cost of the problem. When it comes to the global economy, there is no larger
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 19
burden than the cost of mental health, which is projected to rise from $2.5 trillion in 2010 to $6
trillion by 2030 (Insel, 2011). The direct costs of treatment match the cost of cancer care; and,
another 200% is spent annually on indirect costs, including the burden of untreated mental illness
(Bayer, 2005; Insel, 2011). Fortune Magazine examined the prevalence and impact of mental
health in the workplace, reporting that everyday stress and common disorders such as anxiety
and depression cost the United states approximately $1 trillion in lost productivity annually
(Bach, 2017). Since high PMW is negatively correlated with mental illness, a solution that
effectively increases whole population PMW could prevent illness and reduce associated costs.
Data supporting the need for stigma-free, public, community-based solutions. The
number one risk for mental health problems is determined by where a person lives, because of
local lifestyle and culture, availability of local services, and the community’s access to services
(American Psychiatric Association, n.d.). The average time between the onset of mental health
symptoms to receiving treatment is 10 years (Mental Health America, 2018). Three key barriers
that prevent people from seeking mental health help include: 1) Stigma; 2) Not knowing where
to go to get help; and, 3) Not knowing what treatment is like or if it works (National Academies
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016). This writer believes that it is the responsibility of
mental health leaders to publicly disseminate PMW solutions that reach people in their
communities, bypass the stigma of the current mental health system, show people where to get
help, and, let them experience what treatment is like so they can determine what works for them.
The case for launching FI in Virginia. The FI team is in Virginia, where the first
museum is proposed. In 2018, Virginia fell within the lowest ranked states according to Mental
Health America’s (2018) annual report on the nation’s state-by-state level of mental health.
Virginia rankings in relationship to all states were as follows: 1) Number 42 in access to care,
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 20
with 300,000 adults reporting unmet mental health needs; 2) Number 41 in workforce shortage,
with a ratio of one mental health provider per 680 patients; 3) Number 41 in youth access to care,
with 79.6% of youth with severe depressive episodes receiving no or inadequate treatment; and,
4) Number 40 in disorder prevalence, with 1,261,000 Virginia adults having mental illness.
In Fauquier County, Virginia, the proposed flagship location for FI, “those numbers are
worse” (S. Morgan, personal communication, November 13, 2018), according to the director of
the county’s mental health association. Fauquier is located about 50 miles west of Washington,
DC, where the suburbs and rural Virginia intersect. The investigator’s existing mental health
practice, which is in Fauquier, appeared in more than 69,000 searches for a nearby “therapist” or
“counselor” over a three-year period, from January 2016 through December 2018 (Psychology
Today, 2019). The practice is beyond capacity; despite no active marketing, no outdoor signage,
and clear statements that the practice is full, therapy requests continue via voicemail and email.
Conceptual Framework, Logic Model, and Theory of Change
Conceptual framework. For people to realize their full potential, cope with stressors, be
productive at work, and make meaningful contributions to society, PMW is essential (National
Prevention Strategy, 2010). The FI project proposes that, if mental wellness is positioned as an
enjoyable, stigma-free concept, society could engage in the pursuit of PMW as a new norm.
People who participate in FI’s public interventions will learn and try evidence-based approaches
that help prevent common mental health problems. People who recognize the benefits will adopt
practices that increase PMW, reducing the growth of mental illness and related social problems.
Logic model. The FI project is designed to increase community PMW by helping guests
discover, see, and try PMW practices, products, and experiences. Immediate outcomes measure
levels of PMW, participation at FI, and likelihood of participating in PMW practices.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 21
Intermediate outcomes measure knowledge of practices, adoption of practices, decreased stigma,
and improved attitudes. Long-term outcomes measure community level increases in PMW,
decreased stigma, improved attitudes, and decreased crises, including hospitalizations and
suicides. The logic model supporting the FI project is outlined in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Logic model for Flourish Interactive.
Theory of change. According to innovation decision process theory as presented by
Funnell and Rogers (2011), widespread changes in public health can occur if clear and simple
information is used to provide new knowledge, communications are persuasive, a decision is
made to adopt the innovation, the innovation is implemented, and the information can be
confirmed. Public PMW experiences in a stigma-free setting could improve mental health.
Proposed Solution and Innovation
The FI project’s contribution to the GCSWI. The threats to individual and family
well-being identified in the GCSWI are largely fed and sustained by the following dynamics: 1)
Stigma is attached to mental health issues and treatment, resulting in missed or delayed
identification of problems and low treatment participation; 2) Prevention programs are lacking,
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 22
resulting in frequent preventable escalation to crisis, hospitalization, violence, and outcomes as
tragic as suicide; 3) The pursuit of PMW is not presented as normal, desirable, or enjoyable,
resulting in low participation in evidence-based mental wellness strategies and services; and, 4)
Public intervention delivery models that reach the masses are lacking (Kazdin & Rabbitt, 2013).
The FI project is designed to complement the existing mental health system with a new
organization that addresses all four of those dynamics. The FI solution is focused on offering
public, stigma-free PMW experiences in an appealing setting designed for people, not problems.
Proposed solution. The proposed project, Flourish Interactive (FI), is to create
America’s first museum of positive mental wellness. Figure 2 shows an unrelated biophilic
museum concept created by Paul Murdoch Architects (2014) as a representation of how FI could
potentially look.

Figure 2. Representation of a biophilic museum concept (Paul Murdoch Architects, 2014),
adapted for demonstration purposes with the proposed FI branding added.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 23
The purpose of FI is to deliver public PMW interventions with broad commercial appeal
in a desirable, mainstream consumer setting. The museum is designed to deliver multi-
disciplinary, evidence-based public mental health promotion and protection interventions aimed
at increasing PMW for guests. The vision is that, as participation at FI grows, engaging in
activities that maintain positive mental well-being will be as normal and common as it is today to
work out or make other healthy choices. This PMW innovation supports the “Ensure Healthy
Development for all Youth” grand challenge and is aligned with the “Unleashing the Power of
Prevention” initiative, which aims to reduce youth mental health problems by 20 percent by the
year 2025 (The Coalition for the Promotion of Behavioral Health, 2015). In a stigma-free
environment, evidence-based interventions shown effective for increasing PMW in people of all
ages will include: nutrition optimized for mental health (Bährer-Kohler, & Carod-Artal, 2017),
exposure to nature, positive psychology, mindfulness, strengths, and social engagement (Howell,
Keyes & Passmore, 2013; Keyes, 2013).
The innovation. To the investigator’s knowledge, there is no current mental health
solution that is: 1) Designed for the public, using a delivery model that offers interactive PMW
exhibits with psychoeducation by therapists and peer specialists; 2) Offered in a novel biophilic
museum setting to reach the masses while serving as a place for local community restoration and
social connectedness; 3) Multi-disciplinary, integrating mental health with healthy nutrition
practices and wellness architecture; and, 4) Co-located with organizations that offer holistic well-
being experiences, ranging from health practices to creative and performing arts studios.
Expected Impact
The hypothesis is that FI can increase PMW for guests and reduce stigma and negative
attitudes toward mental health over time, as participation at FI increases. The goal of FI is to
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 24
complement mental health system efforts by overturning the social norms that perpetuate
negative attitudes toward mental health and create barriers to participation. By increasing PMW,
the FI project aims to moderate the growth of mental illness and reduce related social problems.
Stakeholder Perspectives
Current local contextual environment. Based on the investigator’s primary research
findings with lay interviewees, responses indicated that participants: 1) Did not know what
positive mental wellness meant; 2) Did not recognize that mental health is a two-continuum
measure of separate levels of illness and wellness; and, 3) Were unfamiliar with what
knowledge, skills, and practices could increase PMW. However, once the PMW concept and a
sample of interventions and practices were briefly explained, respondents reported believing they
could benefit from pursuing PMW as it was described within the FI project framework.
In discussions with mental health leadership in the investigator’s local community of
Fauquier County, Virginia, the concept was embraced as an extension of current local efforts. A
representative from the Fauquier Mental Health Association reported that FI could serve as an
adjunct resource for community mental health participants. A representative from Fauquier Fish,
an organization that provides food to families in need, suggested that the Theralicious® café at
FI could potentially set the standard for a prescriptive menu for their clients.
Other stakeholder considerations. The Village of Vint Hill and the Fauquier County
Department of Economic Development (FQDED) are critical allies. The town where FI is
proposed and the County within which it is located are currently seeking organizations to occupy
their new land bays. This writer’s current mental health practice operates in partnership with the
FQDED, leasing office space from them, and they recognize the local need for mental health
services. A Veterans Administration (VA) hospital has just broken ground in the adjacent land
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 25
bay, and the investigator views FI as complementary to the VA’s mission. Local mental health
providers could see FI as a threat to their own client base, or as a complement to their services,
or both. Mental health providers recognize the need for services; however, they likely want to
remain a part of the solution. Until FI launches a communication plan prompting further
conversations with local providers, their position or needs will not be well understood. The
investigator has worked with over 1,000 local families. Many of those clients report recognizing
the need for improved mental health services; however, few understand the two-continuum
model of mental health and the role of PMW in moderating mental illness. Based on the volume
of inquiries for therapy, and people asking to be added to a long waiting list, the surrounding
community recognizes the need for more mental health services. Based on discussions with local
leadership in schools, non-profits, and religious organizations, this writer has heard reported
needs for increased mental health services. What remains unknown is whether these stakeholders
will see FI as a solution. Formative research on the feasibility and acceptability of FI is required.
Current social norms. In developing the FI strategy, the investigator examined social
norms maintaining low levels of PMW so that FI’s project could introduce helpful deviants as
the new norm. Important social norms the FI project intends to overturn include the following: 1)
People do not participate in therapy because they view it as punishment, often mandated by
authorities, parents, spouses, partners, schools, and physicians; and 2) People believe therapy
means there is something seriously wrong with them, since therapy is mandated for people with
socially unacceptable issues such as pedophilia, violence, psychosis, and bizarre behavior.
Deviants. One deviant that could subvert the norm of people viewing therapy as a
punishment would be for therapeutic practices to be designed and marketed in the form of
desirable products, such as branded jewelry-making kits or flatware sets. Under a consumer-
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 26
driven brand name, therapeutic kits could include positive affirmations and components for
tracking goal accomplishments by counting days, months, and years of: sobriety, healthy eating,
living without toxic relationships, and living without self-harm. Components could be
customized for tracking progress related to life domains including health, faith, support, career,
and others.
This deviant idea is what prompted the investigator to begin envisioning stigma-free
therapeutic products under the brand Theralicious®. The brand concept eventually grew into the
idea of having a place where people could learn and try therapeutic products and practices. The
venue evolved into an interactive PMW museum concept where EBPs that increase PMW could
be modeled and taught. Participant feedback will contribute to ongoing community based
participatory research (CBPR), ensuring acceptability of therapeutic experiences.

Figure 3. Theralicious® brand concept and tagline.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 27

Figure 4. Theralicious® flatware prototype with lifestyle reminders for health, gratitude, and
recovery.

Figure 5. Theralicious® jewelry prototype showing components that track progress with daily
therapeutic practices.

Figure 6. Theralicious® jewelry prototype showing charms selected and designed by a research
respondent.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 28
The bracelet shown in Figure 6 was designed by a research respondent who told the
investigator, “I chose these charms because it’s a miracle that I’m alive, I’m proud of being clean
and sober, and I hope to believe that I’m awesome.” This type of feedback has been common,
with jewelry kit testers stating that they selected certain affirmations based on who they believe
they are today and other affirmations based on who they want to be. A therapeutic jewelry kit
like this could subvert the norm in that people would likely not view the jewelry-making activity
as a punishment, they would not initially view it as an obviously “clinical” or stigmatized
activity, and, potentially, more people would participate in this sort of therapeutic experience.
The new norm at FI. The investigator’s aim is to create a new norm where people view
the pursuit of PMW as a normal, desirable, enjoyable, and rewarding priority. The hypothesis is
that people could be motivated to make therapeutic lifestyle choices and practice daily skills to
protect their levels of social, psychological, and emotional well-being. The vision is that building
and maintaining PMW could become as routine as eating well, engaging in physically active
recreation, or working out.
Building on the Existing Evidence
Once FI is established, research could be conducted to assess differences in outcomes
based on which exhibits are most visited, most preferred, most recommended, and most effective
in increasing PMW and improving attitudes toward mental health. By applying a CBPR
approach, PMW interventions could be tested and refined to better meet the community’s needs
while expanding a stakeholder base to increase participation. Using iterative methods, PMW
interventions could be rapidly tested, refined, and brought to market. Ultimately, FI could
become a living laboratory, engaging end users and collaborators in the development of new,
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 29
person-centered products and services (Guzmán, del Carpio, Colomo-Palacios, & de Diego,
2013) to promote PMW.
Leveraging Existing Opportunities for Innovation
The proposed solution is a novel setting and delivery model for disseminating proven
PMW practices that already exist and can be distributed to the public with some adaptation. The
investigator intends to study the feasibility and acceptability of existing interventions for public
settings and determine which opportunities would be best leveraged. The proposed innovation is
an extension, combination, re-introduction, and re-positioning of what already exists.
Solution Alignment with Logic Model and Theory of Change in Conceptual Framework
As shown in the logic model in Figure 1, the investigator hypothesizes that, through
participation at FI, guests could achieve immediate outcomes, including: 1) Increasing their
levels of PMW; 2) Developing knowledge of PMW practices; 3) Increasing their levels of
participation at FI; and, 4) Increasing their likelihood of participating in general PMW practices.
The follow-on hypothesis is that, over time, through increased participation at FI, guests could
achieve intermediate outcomes, including: 1) Increased knowledge of PMW practices; 2)
Increased adoption of PMW practices; 3) Decreased levels of mental health stigma; and, 4)
Improved attitudes toward mental health. Finally, the investigator hypothesizes that long-term
outcomes at the community level could include: 1) Increased community levels of PMW; 2)
Decreased community levels of mental health stigma; 3) Improved community attitudes toward
mental health; and, 4) Decreased numbers of mental health crises, hospitalizations, and suicides.
The FI project model leverages innovation decision process theory (Funnell and Rogers, 2011),
hypothesizing that widespread adoption of PMW practices will occur if FI develops clear and
simple exhibits to provide new knowledge, using persuasive communications in an enjoyable
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 30
and stigma-free environment.
Assessment of Project Likelihood of Success
A formative study is required to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a museum of
positive mental wellness. Initial steps in this project involve creating a virtual museum with
online exhibits in text, graphic, video, and audio formats. With the launch of FI online, the
investigator will be able to measure participation, satisfaction, likelihood of recommending,
changes in measures of PMW, and likelihood of participating at a physical museum or
interacting with physical exhibits. The investigator has the knowledge and experience necessary
to bring together the necessary parties to launch the virtual museum and then iteratively launch
components of the larger vision and conduct research along the way. With a conservative and
phased approach that incorporates CBPR, this writer expects the FI project to be successful.
Project Structure, Methodology, and Action Components
Artifacts to Address the Identified Problem
A pilot funding proposal, a project website, an organizational strategy, and financial
plans have been developed to support the proposed capstone project. A beta version of the
website at https://www.flourishinteractive.org has been launched, with a plan to eventually host
or link to the following: 1) Key messaging, YouTube videos, and a project timeline; 2)
Theralicious® products for sale to support the project; 3) A virtual version of the museum with
digital exhibits; 3) Marketing campaign materials, including project recruitment and engagement
tools; 4) Software applications for learning about, measuring, and building positive mental
wellness; and, 5) A CBPR platform to support ongoing studies conducted by the organization,
including findings published in user-friendly formats for public consumption.
Illustrations of the proposed museum are shown in Figures 7 and 8. Key features on level
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 31
one include: 1) Main exhibit area with five domes; 2) Circular nature walk paths with live plant
walls, waterfalls, fire features, and virtual reality walls; 3) An auditorium for hosting public
speakers, workshops, and performances; 4) The Theralicious® shop, a physical representation of
the online store; 5) The Theralicious® café, which serves flawless nutrition and teaches guests to
prepare mason jar meals at home; 6) A crisis suite, to serve those who may require a higher level
of care than what is available on-site; 7) Creative and performing arts studios, to be leased by
organizations that combine arts and wellness; and, 8) A social productivity suite, for people who
need to be productive or take phone calls without disturbing the calm and quiet.

Figure 7. Conceptual illustration of proposed physical museum complex, level one.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 32
Key features on level two include: 1) Cloud platforms that look up to the sky dome and
down through glass floors to the area below, offering experiences of peril to replace addictive
drives; 2) A nature walk, inspiring exploration and movement; 3) A balcony; 4) A greenhouse
with rainwater collection, where plants and ingredients will be grown; 5) A harvesting and
ingredient preparation kitchen; 6) A solar and mechanical maintenance room; 7) An integrated
care and therapy suite with mental health, primary care, and tele-psychiatry partners; and, 8)
Multidisciplinary health practices.

Figure 8. Conceptual illustration of proposed physical museum complex, level two.

POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 33
Market Analysis

Figure 9. Analysis of Mental Health Startups 2013-2018 (AngelList, 2019).
Competitive landscape. The investigator researched new entrants to the mental wellness
arena that launched between 2013 and 2018, analyzing investors, seed money, valuation, and
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 34
number of followers (AngelList, 2019). Figure 9 shows summary findings for the most relevant
startups evaluated. All startups analyzed by the investigator shared the following features: 1) The
solutions are technology-based, using digital, mobile, virtual reality, or artificial intelligence; 2)
The concepts are designed either to reach end users directly on their devices, to support
therapists in clinical work, or to extend clinical work between sessions; 3) The user experiences
are positioned as “private,” implying or stating the user’s ability to bypass stigma because of use
on a personal device; and 4) The solutions could be considered as potential partners for the FI
project, since they have invested significant time, effort, research, money, and thinking in
developing digital tools that could be leveraged in exhibits, experiences within the FI facility and
virtual museum, extension or enhancement of the integrated care services, and components of the
FI end user applications. While the long-term museum vision is a physical experience and
different from the tech-based startups reviewed, FI will begin as a virtual museum with digital
tools, and the types of firms analyzed create competition for attention and funding.
Strengths. Relative to the competitive landscape, FI may be more likely to eradicate
stigma rather than just avoiding it by delivering services behind a personal device. With visual
exposure to therapists throughout the facility, guests may become de-sensitized to the idea of
seeing a therapist. With positive mental wellness experiences positioned as normal and
appealing, there may be a higher likelihood of engagement.
Weaknesses. To the investigator’s knowledge, several components of the FI solution
have not previously been introduced, including: 1) Mental health services in a public consumer
setting; 2) Mental health positioned as pursuing PMW in addition to addressing illness; 3) A
museum serving as a living research laboratory; 4) Mental wellness messaging on common
consumer products; and, 5) Therapists interacting publicly with guests. This design will require
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 35
formative research and ongoing iteration to ensure acceptability, participation, and adoption.
Opportunities. Because FI is designed to eventually become a physical facility, there is
an opportunity to study the surrounding community’s level of participation and changes in
positive mental wellness, which could inform initiatives addressing the social determinants of
health. There is also a unique opportunity to build support for the FI project beyond the mental
health field. Because the FI museum will be an architecturally appealing venue with attention to
biophilic design, the naming opportunities may be of greater interest to a broader group of people
than would be a typical mental health facility such as a medical center. Because the museum will
be part of an integrated care complex that combines physical health, mental health, nutrition, a
therapeutic shop, performing and fine arts studios, and specialty health practices, a variety of
guests who might never otherwise go to a museum or a mental health facility may visit. The FI
solution could change the way Americans view and consume mental health services, setting a
new standard for behavioral health designed to suit people, not problems.
Threats. The FI project uses several approaches that, to the investigator’s knowledge,
have not previously been executed. The organization is multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional,
and still in its formative stages. The level of complexity, the newness of the concept, and the lack
of fit within current organizational definitions could reduce interest or delay progress. The vision
for a physical facility means a longer timeline to the full-scale vision, with the need to overcome
hurdles such as funding, development, construction, partnership-building, and other critical
milestones. The investigator’s position is that the very project dimensions that threaten the
organization are what makes FI innovative and, potentially, transformational.
Project Implementation Methods
The FI implementation model has been provided in supporting materials outlining an
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 36
iterative staffing growth model and key milestones. Initially, the investigator will work with
partners to fill key roles, and as funding is secured and milestones are accomplished, the
organization will begin making part-time and, later, full-time hires. The most evident obstacle is
the size of the organization and the dependency upon a large physical building to achieve the
investigator’s vision for combining evidence-based wellness architecture features, which cannot
easily be added to an existing building.
The complexity and risk will be mitigated using the following strategies: 1) The
organization will begin without owning or leasing a physical property, using donated office
space from the investigator’s therapy practice until sustainable revenue streams are established;
2) Project execution will begin with a fixed 15-month phase of work that measures interest based
on user engagement; 3) Funding will be pursued, and, in parallel, the investigator intends to
launch an online product sales channel where Theralicious® products will be sold to test the
market and potentially bring in revenues; 4) The first phase of work includes a marketing
campaign that will serve to build awareness and gain support; 5) The first phase of work includes
an iterative museum feasibility study, to assess local market acceptance of the proposed concept
as well as acceptability by health professionals; 6) Key components that will be developed for
the study will include end user PMW software applications that can be used regardless of study
outcomes; and, 7) A full virtual museum will be launched and tested prior to making a decision
about moving forward with a physical property, a preview or popup version, and associated lease
or purchase decisions. Risks associated with the organization’s development will be mitigated
using iterative methods demanding frequent feedback from stakeholders, funders, and end users,
to ensure feasibility, acceptability, and viability. Usable PMW tools will be created for the field
and the public throughout the project.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 37
Initially, the investigator and the leadership team will have responsibility for the
organization’s programs, activities, finances, business development, marketing, community
relations, funding, and contractor relationships. Rather than immediately hiring, partners will be
engaged to deliver required marketing campaigns and technology tools. Should the formative
study be a success, key hires are planned to manage the online shop and technology applications
that will support ongoing CBPR and PMW tool development.
Financial Plans and Staging
Following is an explanation of FI’s year-by-year financial plans and staging strategy.
2019 and 2020. Activities for the first half of 2019 are being funded by corporate
donations from the investigator’s private practice, which have already supported startup
activities, initial website hosting and development, and media creation to demonstrate the project
concept. The investigator will continue to commit time to designing the feasibility study and
managing contracted partners. The investigator will execute next steps by launching a low-cost
test version of the Learn to Flourish campaign and will expand on the existing website to add e-
commerce capabilities supporting product sales. In 2020, the investigator will conduct the
feasibility study and launch the first Theralicious® product marketing campaign.
2021. By the beginning of 2021, revenues from the first Theralicious® product will be
used to support the cost of building out the full online shop. Based on user engagement with the
FI website and Theralicious® sales, a pitch will be made to fund the design of the first virtual
exhibit and a plan for the virtual museum. Meanwhile, the investigator will continue to develop
and promote FI campaigns, and engage the community and project partners.
2022. By 2022, a suite of Theralicious® products and online sales are expected to bring
in a steady stream of revenues. With a three-year track record of prudent financial management,
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 38
FI will qualify to pursue additional funding. Ongoing appeals will be made to investors aligned
with mental health, community health, and a culture of health. During 2022, the focus will shift
to building the virtual museum and designing a more mature concept of the physical museum to
prepare for a campaign that measures support for either a lease, purchase, or construction of
either a preview museum or a full facility. Iterating on a single test exhibit is another possible
avenue.
By the end of 2022, if FI has the financial commitments necessary to move forward with
the facility, the physical facility plan will be revised with the engagement of architecture, design,
engineering, construction, and development partners. A naming opportunities campaign, shown
in Figure 10, will be launched to raise $7.76 million to support the construction phase, and
commitments will be obtained during 2022. If funding efforts fail, attention will be redirected to
the virtual museum, with a focus on enhancing the applications and campaigns that achieve the
greatest user engagement and reported benefits.

Figure 10. Projected naming campaign revenues to support FI physical museum construction.
2023 and beyond. By 2023, FI will shift its focus toward designing and planning the
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 39
physical facility. Figure 11 shows the proposed admissions model, supporting a one-time
museum visit, or tiered memberships where the monthly fee for unlimited visits is below the cost
of a single visit and lower than the typical insurance co-payment for one medical appointment.

Figure 11. Museum admission prices and tiered membership fee structure.
The museum will build out a volunteer program to offset operational costs, the
organization will continue to seek funding, and ongoing revenues will come from: 1) Expansion
of Theralicious® products sold online and at the physical property; 2) Revenues from the
Theralicious® café; 3) Donations from ongoing fundraising marketing campaigns; 4) Event fees
from the museum auditorium; 5) Lease income from the studios and healthcare practices; and, 6)
Profits from the integrated care practice.
Initial Methods for Assessment
Study aims. The FI project’s long-term goal is to determine if exposure to a multi-modal,
multi-disciplinary intervention combining wellness architecture and mental health interventions
delivered in a museum setting would increase positive mental wellness. However, in the
formative phase, the investigator will be focused on assessing the usability of the proposed
solution, including the acceptability of the proposed interventions, delivery model, and setting.
For the formative study, the investigator aims to answer the question, “Would people participate
in a therapeutic museum as depicted in the FI prototype video?” Mixed methods will be used to
collect participant feedback, and the prototype will be enhanced during each two-month iteration.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 40
Study setting. This study will be conducted remotely, using a secure online therapy
session platform, which includes self-scheduling of interview appointments, automated text
message reminders, and online surveys accessible from any device connected to the internet.
Participants. Using targeted Facebook advertisements, the investigator will recruit a
total of 50 people. For the first 25 participants, the investigator will target providers who might
participate as referral sources or employees of the FI museum. Recruitment materials will specify
the following job titles: therapist, counselor, psychiatrist, physician, clinical psychologist,
LCSW. This target audience will be between ages 28 and 65, from within a 25-mile radius of the
20187 zip code. For the second 25 participants, the investigator will target general local guests of
the FI museum. Recruitment materials will specify the following interests as inclusion criteria:
health, wellness, well-being, recovery, yoga, healthy foods, healthy eating. This target audience
will be between ages 18 and 50, from within a 10-mile radius of the 20187 zip code. Inclusion
criteria will be adapted and expanded as needed to ensure adequate response.
The study will be conducted in multiple iterations two months apart, allowing time for
participant feedback to be analyzed and incorporated into revised prototype videos. The provider
group will participate in the first three iterations of the study, so that any clinical or professional
concerns may be addressed prior to showing the museum concept to potential museum-goers
during the last three iterations of the study.
Participants will need to: 1) Be at least 18 years old; 2) Have an interest or behavior
related to health; 3) Have a device with internet access and the ability to stream live video; 4)
Indicate they would not be in any danger by participating in the study; 5) Indicate that they are
not in crisis or in need of serious assistance; and, 6) Be willing to be exposed to a video
prototype of a new wellness museum, participate in a video recorded interview, take surveys
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 41
about their impressions, and take surveys about their well-being on three occasions over a six-
month period. The target provider participant group will have the added requirement of being a
licensed healthcare provider. Advertisements will state, “Help us design a new wellness
museum. Share your ideas, and earn $150.”
The Facebook ad will link to a screening questionnaire on the secure Simple Practice
platform. Those meeting screening criteria will complete an electronic consent form to
participate in the study. Once the consent form has been completed, participants will receive a
link allowing them to self-schedule an interview appointment online.
Procedures. Participants will be screened into the study via an online, 10-item screening
instrument they can access via any device with internet access. Eligible participants will receive
an online consent form and full details about the components and timeline of the study, as well as
how they can follow the ongoing research and development.
Once the consent form is electronically signed, participants will receive a link to the
baseline questionnaire. Once the questionnaire is submitted, participants will receive: 1) A link
to schedule their first 60-minute live semi-structured video interview, with a variety of available
times offered over the next seven days; 2) A link to the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form
(MHC-SF) survey (Keyes, 2009); 3) Once they complete the MHC-SF, they will receive a link to
the most recent video promoting the FI museum concept and its relationship to PMW; and, 4) A
link to a 10-question survey collecting participant data and responses regarding the usability and
acceptability of the museum. Participants will be reminded of their scheduled interview by text
message and email 24 hours before the scheduled time. Participants will be asked to watch the FI
video again at or just prior to the interview.
During the live video interview, participants will be captured on audio and video by a
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 42
stationary video camera capturing the screen broadcasting the participant’s face. Participants will
be asked about: 1) Their overall impressions of the video; 2) What they learned by watching the
video; 3) How they saw FI as relevant (or not) to PMW; 4) If they would participate at FI and, if
so, why, and what do they envision doing there; 5) Who else they think would participate at FI
and why; 6) Their top three likes and dislikes about the FI concept; 7) Their top three likes and
dislikes about the video; 8) What changes they would recommend to the FI design in its current
iteration; 9) What changes they would recommend to the video; and, 10) Anything else they
want to add. At the end of the interview, participants will receive that iteration’s compensation in
the form of a $50 Amazon gift code, and they will confirm receipt before disconnecting.
Sampling. The 25 provider participants will be recruited by convenience sampling,
through a Facebook ad, then assigned to a single group. Six months later, the process will be
repeated with the 25 museum-goer participants.
Design. The research design will be O X O… O X O … O X O with two months
between iterations. Then, the same design will be repeated with the second set of participants.
Demographic and PMW measures. Demographic information will be collected,
including gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, and occupation. At study baseline and before
each interview, the investigator will measure participant PMW using the MHC-SF.
Other participant measures. Participants will be asked to provide their impressions of
their level of PMW as scored on the MHC-SF, ranging from 0 (very dissatisfied), 3 (neutral), to
5 (very satisfied). They will be asked whether they have ever engaged in mental health
counseling, therapy, or self-help, and whether they have engaged in such over the past year, and
over the past month. Participants will be asked whether they have been to a health facility such
as a gym, health store, or other non-medical health specialty business within the past month,
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 43
from 0 (none), 1 (1-2 times), 2 (3-4 times), 3 (5-6 times), 4 (7-8 times) to 5 (9 or more times).
Usability and satisfaction measures. After each viewing of the PMW and FI museum
video, the investigator will pose questions to assess the participant’s satisfaction with the
proposed concept, asking: 1) “Overall, how satisfied are you with the FI concept?”; 2) “How
likely would you be to visit FI?”; 3) How likely would you be to recommend FI to someone you
know?”; 4) “How persuasive is the video in promoting FI as desirable?”; and, 5) “How
persuasive is the video in promoting the need for people to increase their positive mental
wellness?”. Response options will range from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely).
Desired results. The goal during the formative study is to have 50 active study
participants from the flagship museum’s surrounding community. By the last iteration of study,
the investigator aims to demonstrate that 75 percent of users are highly satisfied with the FI
concept, 75 percent of users have a high likelihood of visiting the FI museum, and 75 percent of
users have a high likelihood of recommending the FI museum to others.
Future assessment methods. The goal after the launch of the museum is to achieve a 50
percent increase in number of guests with high PMW by the end of year one of operations. The
second goal is to achieve high participation, with 15 percent or more of the local community
population to visit the FI museum on one occasion during the first year and for five percent of
the local community to visit four times or more during the whole year. Stakeholders in mental
health will be engaged so FI’s outcomes can include associated changes in numbers of mental
health crises and hospitalizations. The radius defining the local community and an exact number
of desired guests will be identified once the museum site has been selected, the capacity has been
established, and projections have been solidified. If the pilot museum achieves desired outcomes
with high traffic, implementation could include expansion by replication in other communities.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 44
Stakeholder Involvement Plan
During the formative study, the investigator intends to build a social media audience of at
least 1,000 regional followers who are either target museum-goers, employees, referral sources,
co-located businesses, or partners. The investigator will promote the project timeline, key
activities, and progress via the FI website, using social media, and through outreach. The
investigator’s local networks will be contacted with requests to engage stakeholders in mental
health, biophilic design, wellness architecture, land development, exhibit design, museum
management, nutrition, restaurant management, local business, and any other field that becomes
relevant as the FI project evolves. The investigator will publish study findings publicly and for
all stakeholder groups. The investigator will hold focus groups at the beginning and end of each
study iteration, so stakeholders can view progress, provide input, and remain engaged. The
investigator will attempt to build buy-in early and ongoing, ensuring that there are benefits to
participating.
Communications Products and Strategies
As a startup organization, FI will begin its communications with a marketing campaign
that re-positions mental health in the public view, attempts to engage people in pursuing positive
mental wellness, and introduces the FI brand. The initial campaign will be incorporated into FI’s
formative study. Campaign and study results will inform the direction and evolution of the
organization, and the feasibility and acceptability of the proposed museum. In parallel, the
campaign will inform the public about FI’s vision and build engagement by pursuing social
media followers and building an e-mail list for ongoing campaigns and communications.
The need for new mental wellness messaging. Prominent American mental health
organizations spread messaging that perpetuates stigma by emphasizing the need to change how
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 45
“we” – people without mental illness – view “others” – people with mental illness. The National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has an active “StigmaFree” campaign that encourages
audiences to “Let others know that there is hope and understanding” (NAMI, n.d., para 1).
Mental Health America (MHA) argues that stigma may not be the best word to describe the
discrimination of individuals with mental health disorders, while pointing out that stigma
campaigns “help people feel less alone” (Davis, 2015, para 3). The “Make it OK” campaign
provides education about stigma, providing a list of what to say and what not to say when talking
to someone with a mental health concern (Make it OK, n.d.). The following problematic
assumptions are evident in these anti-stigma campaigns: 1) Mental health is equated to mental
illness; 2) Mental health is positioned as only being relevant to a minority of people who have
officially reported and diagnosed disorders; and, 3) Stigma and discrimination is recommended
to be solved by people without mental health issues, with the goal of helping people who have
mental health issues. The call to action for all three campaigns is for people without mental
illness to change their attitudes toward people with mental illness.
The FI campaign strategy. The FI project aims to launch a campaign that corrects the
mental health system’s divisive approach. The FI campaign will prompt audiences to change the
way “we” view “ourselves,” by promoting the following concepts: 1) Mental health includes
levels of positive mental wellness and levels of mental illness; 2) Mental health is relevant to all
people, and protecting mental health is fundamental to public health; and, 3) Stigma and
discrimination should be solved using inclusive language to acknowledge that “we” experience
varying levels of mental health throughout life, making de-stigmatization a shared responsibility.
Since the investigator’s primary research findings indicated that people frame mental
health as mental illness, and the concept of positive mental wellness is not understood, the
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 46
campaign will need to test at least two versions of messaging. The investigator will be engaging
partners to validate and re-direct the proposed approaches as needed. The primary version of the
proposed campaign will be “Learn to Flourish,” which introduces new positively-oriented
terminology that could be effective in re-positioning mental wellness; this message is designed to
elicit intrinsic motivation, encouraging people to try something new because it is enjoyable or
interesting. A second version of the proposed campaign will be worded in terms of a more
universal experience, promoting that audiences can take steps to “Prevent emotional
breakdowns.” This message fits within the current social frame of viewing mental health as
mental illness and targets extrinsic motivation, encouraging people to do something to achieve a
separate outcome, which is how health messages are often positioned. The goal is to conduct a
study to test the campaign with both sets of messages across receiver groups and determine
which verbiage is most acceptable, appealing, and engaging.
The proposed campaign seeks to demonstrate that people who feel more favorably toward
the Flourish Interactive brand are more likely to make a commitment to pursuing positive mental
wellness. Campaign audiences will be encouraged to: 1) Understand mental health in terms of
varying levels of illness and wellness throughout life; 2) Measure levels of positive mental
wellness monthly; 3) Create and adapt a life-long mental wellness plan; and, 4) Share their plan
and wellness levels with at least two other supportive people. Unlike current anti-stigma
campaigns, the Learn to Flourish campaign is designed to be action-oriented, self-focused, and to
achieve positive measurable results. Desired long-term outcomes will be for people with and
without mental illness to report that, even amid problems or illness, they will be less likely to
feel alone, feel different, isolate from others, harm themselves or others, not seek help, give up
on life, commit suicide, or end up hospitalized.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 47
Target receiver group. Between 2015 and the present, this writer launched 17 mental
health campaigns on Facebook and five YouTube videos specific to positive mental wellness and
stigma. Despite targeting ten total audiences and testing two or more audiences on every
campaign, women between the ages of 35 and 54 had over 82 percent of impressions, clicks,
likes, and shares on every campaign. These findings align with the empirical literature on help-
seeking in mental health, indicating that women are more likely than men to use psychological
services and facilitate help-seeking for themselves and their families (Nam, 2010).
Theory supporting concept effectiveness. The investigator’s primary research study
informed the theories and principles supporting the proposed campaign. Participants were
informed that the mental health system reports one in five Americans have a mental illness
(NAMI, n.d.; Make it OK, n.d.), and they were advised that positive mental wellness is only
found in approximately 20 percent of the population (Keyes, 2013). Among primary research
respondents, 100 percent indicated that the system-reported prevalence seemed low and the
positive mental wellness statistic seemed more accurate.
The social proof principle led participants to challenge the reported prevalence
considering their personal experiences with mental concerns and issues they had observed among
family, friends, and peers. The principle of compliance was also evident in the investigator’s
primary research findings. When participants were asked if they would be willing to take steps to
increase their mental wellness, they all responded in the affirmative and indicated believing that
“everyone should.” In addition to relying on social influence and social proof, the Learn to
Flourish campaign is leveraging the authority principle by publishing this writer’s research under
the FI organization with a commitment to exposing misconceptions and showcasing the truth
about the health and social consequences of not practicing positive mental wellness.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 48
Message appeal. The FI website promotes that anyone whose level of PMW drops below
flourishing is at four times greater risk of developing mental illness; and, 80 percent of
Americans are not flourishing (Keyes, 2013). These messages promote fear and vulnerability
while increasing perceived susceptibility. The health belief model helps audiences recognize that
they can moderate these emotions by learning to flourish with high positive mental wellness.
Logic will also help audiences relate common problems such as addiction and toxic relationships
to mental health issues, where they may not previously have been associated.
Speakers and Sources. One strategic goal of the Learn to Flourish campaign is to
elevate the public’s awareness and perception of the Flourish Interactive brand to attract speakers
and sources with some notoriety or celebrity appeal. Currently, this writer is the main speaker,
serving as a credible source with personal and professional subject matter expertise. A local 11-
year-old girl who sings, acts, and participates in pageants has elected to use this writer’s
messaging in her speeches; her efforts have potential to boost the brand’s organic reach.
Channels and Media. Audience Awards refers to 2019 as “The Year of Video” (2019, p.
1). The Learn to Flourish campaign will use short-form video and graphic advertisements on the
following channels with desktop and mobile versions: 1) The FI website; 2) YouTube; 3)
Facebook; 4) LinkedIn; and, 5) Twitter. These channels can accommodate rapid testing of
messaging and audiences, with the ability to incorporate feedback, iterate, and adapt.
How Collective Capstone Components Address the Problems of Practice
Nearly four decades ago, leading researchers in public health warned that prompt action
was necessary, and research needed to help inform people about what they can do to increase and
protect their health (Ng, Davis, Manderscheid, & Elkes, 1981). The components of the FI
project, individually and collectively, are designed to address the overdue need to teach people
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 49
how to flourish with positive mental wellness. The PMW survey tool will help people measure
their levels of PMW as well as become familiar with the specific items that are scored to assess
PMW, like feeling happy, feeling interested in life, and feeling good at managing the
responsibilities of daily life (Keyes, 2009). The FI website provides basic education about PMW
and what it means to flourish, why people need to learn to flourish, what prevents people from
learning to flourish, and what they can do to help themselves. The proposed tools will allow
people to create their own PMW plan, which is specifically designed to increase levels of
emotional well-being, and psychological and social functioning. The virtual museum is designed
to introduce people to brief PMW interventions. The physical museum is designed to deliver all
those tools in a stigma-free setting and delivery model that promotes social connectedness and
makes the pursuit of PMW a new norm. The natural consequences of participation in PMW
would include increases in well-being and decreases in social problems that are sustained by low
PMW, including: poor attendance and performance at work and school, mood disorders,
addiction, violence, incarceration, and homelessness.
Ethical Concerns and Possible Negative Consequences
Some possible negative project consequences are being considered specifically because
mental wellness has not previously been presented in the proposed setting or with the proposed
messaging. The FI project runs the risk of inaccurately, improperly, or inadequately representing
mental health, which could: 1) Minimize the experience of individuals who experience chronic
mental health problems that seem untreatable or are treatment-resistant; or, 2) Create
misconceptions that mental health services are unnecessary, and people only need to go to a
place like FI to be well. Another concern is that the creation of FI could result in increased
identification of mental health problems, increased willingness to participate in mental health
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 50
treatment, and a demand for more therapeutic and psychiatric services in an area already
experiencing a provider shortage crisis.
In discussing the proposed delivery of public mental health interventions, some
professionals have cited concerns for regulations such as HIPAA, asking this investigator how
privacy would be handled. The organizational model is designed to not focus on privacy, and to
make mental health experiences comfortable and shame-free. So, there is ongoing work required
to clarify the concept and gain support. Informed consent and professional processes will be
incorporated into the organizational model where appropriate to ensure protection of human
rights and no harm. Caution will be taken in developing the specific program components that
involve human interaction and potential disclosure of problems. Participation at FI requires
electronic registration, and informed consent practices will ensure guests understand that advice
and guidance provided by staff and exhibits is limited and not a substitute for medical treatment.
The FI team will receive regular, comprehensive training on continuity of care, expectations, and
liability. The museum facility includes a plan for a crisis suite, to allow for private consultation
and to mitigate problem escalation. The FI concept is designed to make working on mental
wellness as public as working out at a gym; so, the typical privacy concerns will not apply in the
museum portion. The iterative plan for FI allows time for multidisciplinary planning to ensure
that each exhibit, guest experience, and program results in an ideal guest experience.
Limitations and Risks
The FI project carries risk inherent to its differentiation from existing mental health
solutions. By boldly presenting PMW experiences as normal and desirable, the organization
essentially has one chance to re-introduce mental health in a positive light. Should the project fail
in that regard, future innovations could suffer.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 51
If the mental wellness museum concept itself is not accepted by the public, the FI project
will fail. The iterative approach, beginning with a marketing campaign and leading to a virtual
museum before pursuing any physical property, is being applied to moderate that risk. By
incorporating early and frequent feedback from professionals and end users, the FI concept
should either be accepted or the initiative abandoned.
Ethical and professional risks are high because staff will be working outside the typical
limits of privacy, so legal and professional counsel have already been engaged. Ongoing research
and input from all stakeholder groups is essential to mitigating concerns. Insurers, malpractice
attorneys, and quality assurance groups will be integral to planning and operations.
The first phase of work is to launch an online positive mental wellness campaign with
web-based tools for end users. The financial risk is high for the first phase, since there is little
indication of whether people will engage with the campaign or adopt the tools. The decision to
move forward with this initial phase is based on research to date showing high adoption of
mindfulness applications on mobile devices and the reported prevalence of common mental
health concerns. Subsequent FI project phases have higher associated financial costs but lower
relative risk, since decisions to move forward will be based on quantifiable levels of interest, use,
and engagement. Well before there is a decision made on whether to move forward with the
physical museum, data will be available to inform the best path forward.
Proposal for Artifact Sharing
Capstone artifacts will be posted to the FI website as they evolve with feedback
incorporated. Once messaging has been refined in collaboration with partners, artifacts will be
promoted through social media campaigns and press releases, directing practitioners and external
constituencies to the website. The FI project will leverage its social media profiles with boosted
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 52
posts to engage stakeholders and prospects.
Plan for Next Steps
The investigator’s therapy practice has donated funds and space to support the launch of
the first Theralicious® product, whose revenues will help support next steps until other funding
is obtained. This writer is currently investigating additional funding sources and partnership
opportunities. Until FI establishes a financial track record, the investigator will execute tasks that
are within the investigator’s skill sets and financial means, in as small increments as necessary to
continue progress. An iterative project implementation plan for the first phase of work has been
provided in supplemental capstone materials.
Conclusions, Implications, and Action
How the Project Informs Potential Future Decisions and Actions
The FI project will shed light on potential future decisions and actions aimed at changing
the culture of mental health. The overall question FI aims to answer is, “Could mental health
practitioners, researchers, and peers in recovery unleash prevention and reach the masses through
a positive mental wellness museum?” The FI project will continuously test and iterate on its
model, with community-based participatory research findings available for anyone interested.
Project Conclusions within a Field of Practice
Over time, FI has the potential to deliver conclusions that demonstrate the importance of
considering specific dynamics of mental health practice, including the following: 1) The
effectiveness of a social setting like a publicly accepted museum in making therapeutic
experiences a new norm for the community; 2) The effectiveness of a large, multi-disciplinary
mental health complex in expanding reach and engagement in services for the community; 3)
The ability of public mental wellness experiences, which are designed for people rather than
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 53
problems, to spread prevention and protection in a community; 4) The effectiveness of a
restorative biophilic environment in engaging people in mental health activities and improving
mental health; 5) The effectiveness of co-located nutritional services and healthy meals in
engaging people in mental health activities and improving mental health; 6) The acceptability of
cross-disciplinary lifestyle solutions designed to improve mental wellness; and, 7) The
effectiveness of a stigma-free delivery model and setting in improving attitudes and decreasing
stigma toward mental health for guests. Because FI plans for multi-disciplinary, multi-modal
interventions, isolating the variables that achieve specific outcomes is a complex and time-
consuming undertaking. The assumption is that PMW will increase for FI guests, yielding broad
community benefits and making the work of arriving at more detailed conclusions worthwhile.
Implications of Project Innovation for Practice and Further Action
The FI project has the potential to create a framework for the future of community well-
being, starting with a museum that captures and exhibits models of activities that increase PMW.
From that starting point, any organization would have a practical example to facilitate
implementation of specific components. Following are a few potential case illustrations: 1) A
mental health program might implement a biophilic environment and nutritional components to
improve client outcomes; 2) A corporation might build positive mental wellness features, staff,
and peers into its organizational model; 3) An individual or organization might replicate the FI
model, designing another museum or building a similar concept such as a health complex. The
greatest implication lies in the potential for the pursuit of mental health to become a normal,
stigma-free part of life for Americans; that would be an ideal outcome, which would demand
ongoing creativity and cross-disciplinary collaboration to achieve the necessary scaling and
expansion of mental health services to meet the massive level of need.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 54
A Call to Action for Mental Health
In the 1970s and 1980s, public health experts recommended that healthcare should shift
its focus away from disease treatment toward prevention, ensuring that Americans learn what
they can do to stay or become healthy; while medical advances brought about effective disease
treatment, America was still not getting any healthier (Ng, Davis, Manderscheid, & Elkes, 1981).
Yet, the popular view remains that mental health refers to mental illness, and the social goal is to
avoid being in the group that has mental illness. It is the responsibility of mental health leaders to
teach that mental health includes having varying levels of both positive mental wellness and
mental illness throughout life, with the shared understanding that most people lack PMW
(Keyes, 2013) and having a mental health issue is more common than not (Keyes 2007a; Keyes
2007b; Schaefer, 2017).
Research shows that only about 20% of Americans are flourishing with high PMW, and
anyone below flourishing has a four times increased risk of developing future mental illness
(Keyes, 2013). Scarce resources are aimed at helping Americans build PMW, and more than a
half-century has passed without success in preventing anxiety, depression, addiction, toxic
relationships, and suicide. The mental health system’s denial that “we” have mental health
issues, and the insistence that mental health is only relevant to “them” – the reported one in five
(“Any Mental Illness,” n.d.; “Any Disorder Among Children,” n.d.) – causes mental health
problems to continue to grow unchecked, with mental illness snowballing into larger and more
alarming wicked social problems. Mental health is the single most expensive problem in the
world (Insel, 2011). Somewhere in the trillions being spent on mental health every year there
must be an opportunity to pilot a mental wellness solution that is appealing and stigma-free – one
designed for people, not problems.
POSITIVE MENTAL WELLNESS MUSEUM 55
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Abstract (if available)

Abstract Mental illness-focused programs fail to prevent the most prevalent problems, perpetuating wicked social issues that maintain mental health as the single most costly problem in the world. Health and well-being require positive mental wellness (PMW), but only 20 percent of Americans are “flourishing” with high PMW. Anyone below flourishing has a four times increased risk of developing mental illness. The Grand Challenges for Social Work call for increased prevention and settings-based programs that address the social and environmental contexts required for well-being. Flourish Interactive Museum of Positive Mental Wellness is a proposed innovation designed to answer those needs by helping the public learn to flourish, increasing PMW, and preventing common problems like anxiety, depression, risky behaviors, violence, crisis, and suicide. The proposed innovation incorporates best practices from nutrition and wellness architecture, while also introducing a new therapeutic shop and cafe brand called Theralicious®. The innovation lies in the public service delivery model, the novel museum setting, the multi-disciplinary strategy, a mental health brand with consumer appeal, and co-located holistic wellness experiences. Flourish Interactive aims to: 1) Engage people in pursuing PMW as a normal, desirable daily priority

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Asset Metadata

Creator Pincosy, Gina Lyn (author)

Core Title Unleashing prevention and reaching the masses with a positive mental wellness museum

School Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Degree Doctor of Social Work

Degree Program Social Work

Publication Date 05/21/2019

Defense Date 05/10/2019

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag Flourish Interactive,flourishing,interventions in community context,interventions in novel settings,mental health and biophilic design,mental health and nutrition,mental health and the built environment,mental health and wellness architecture,mental health continuum,mental health innovation,mental health promotion,mental health stigma,mental wellness museum,novel mental health delivery model,OAI-PMH Harvest,Positive Mental Wellness,Theralicious®,therapeutic museum

Format application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Singh, Melissa (committee chair), Lee, Nani (committee member), Manderscheid, Ronald (committee member)

Creator Email ginapincosy@gmail.com,ginapincosy@hotmail.com

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c89-169852

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Legacy Identifier etd-PincosyGin-7453.pdf

Dmrecord 169852

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Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

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