The MindArbor Model: a living tree of mental health.
Mental health is like a growing tree, its strength and flourishing depend on solid roots, strong trunk and supportive environments. Mental health is shaped by the roots, the trunk as well as the fruits and leaves. The roots are the determinants of mental health. They include biology/genetics, the environment and interpersonal and social relationships as well as life experiences. Strong roots support a healthy tree.
The trunk is the skeleton that keeps the tree standing and directs resources from the roots to the leaves. It includes cognitive skills, executive functions, processes that manage the interaction between the underlying factors of mental health and the environment.
The leaves and fruits are the signs of the tree’s health and growth. These are elements of psychological capital (psycap) that we need to build for our life. Psycap includes resilience, self-efficacy, coping, motivation, which indicate functioning and thriving.
MindArbor is an educational and preventive model grounded in positive mental health. MindArbor focuses on raising awareness, educating and supporting the development of cognitive and psychological capacities that shape and enhance wellbeing.
MindArbor does not provide clinical, therapeutic or intervention-based support.