The power of positive thinking is being quantified by the Wellbeing and Resilience Centre in Adelaide's South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

Over 200 schools in South Australia are developing modern teaching principles for young people's positive mental health habits with the help of the centre.

By focusing on changing thinking attitudes before the likes of anxiety and depression take hold, the Wellbeing and Resilience centre staff hope to lessen the impact of the isolating conditions.



"It's not to say that this positive psychology approach can prevent everyone from catastrophic illness," director Gabrielle Kelly told 891 ABC Adelaide's drive program.

Tips for positive thinking Focus on gratitude: search for things you can be grateful for

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"But there is a whole bunch of other people that, if they are trained to think in a more effective way, may be able to prevent themselves from falling into some of the thinking traps that head people down towards the mental illness curve."

Ms Kelly said neuroplasticity studies had revealed a person can change the way they think at any time during their life.

The basics of the PERMA theory

By promoting a theory of Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment (PERMA), developed by Professor Martin Seligman, the centre hopes to build resilience and positive habits in students.

"It's a dashboard of indicators," Ms Kelly said.

"If your PERMA is better, you are more likely to be able to cope with life's challenges."

Dunja Nedic was introduced to the PERMA model when she was training year 10 students in positive thinking concepts.

She discovered the theory of 'negativity bias' where people automatically qualify negative responses as objectivity.

"That really forced me to reflect a lot," said Ms Nedic, co-ordinator at the Wellbeing and Resilience Centre.

Mental health facts One in four young Australians suffer from mental disorders, according to 2007 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures on mental health

One in four young Australians suffer from mental disorders, according to 2007 Australian Bureau of Statistics figures on mental health Around 25 per cent of all people with a mental health disorder had developed a severe level of impairment due to their conditions

Around 25 per cent of all people with a mental health disorder had developed a severe level of impairment due to their conditions A 2007 National Health Survey revealed 13 per cent of South Australians reported high or very high degrees of psychological distress, with rates in South Australian males over the age of 18 higher than the national average.

"You can find positives if you are looking for them."

Ms Nedic said if she had been able to reduce negativity, particularly peer group negativity through her high school years, the years would have been much easier.

"I think that it is really important to realise that you are influenced by the people that are closest to you."

Ms Kelly said fitness, sleep and nutrition also played a large role in providing the right basis for positive mental health and resilience.

"Things do go wrong ... it's a question of what you do about it when normal life-challenges hit you."