Background:

The prevalence of psychiatric disorders justifies an investment in the promotion of Mental Health, although aware that this priority remains a challenge in health policies. The promotion of the well-being of the person with mental disorders, recurring to psychotherapeutic interventions, implemented by the specialist nurse in Mental Health, was also a challenge in this experience.

Aim:

To describe an experience report resulting from a Positive Mental Health Program developed in an acute hospitalization service.

Methods:

The experience made use of the Decalogue of Positive Mental Health by Lluch-Canut (2011). A participatory methodology involving people with mental illness (n=24) was used, highlighting Major Depression, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Also participating were nurses specialized in Mental Health and Psychiatry and Nursing students from the conception of the script, planning, scenario preparation and dramatization.

Results:

The results of the evaluation of this program revealed i) high support of hospitalized users; (ii) that the program was a significant experience for users; iii) the intervention program contributed to achieving promoting factors of Positive Mental Health, integrated on the multifactorial model presented by Lluch-Canut (1999) such as: personal satisfaction; pro-social attitude; self-control; autonomy; problem-solving and self-updating; and interpersonal skills.

Conclusions:

The dramatization, with the active participation of hospitalized users and health professionals, was effective in expressing positive emotions of all people involved, suggesting a greater investment in this type of intervention in people with mental illness.