The effect of positive psychotherapy-based psychoeducation given to individuals with mental illness on forgiveness and psychological well-being

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of positive psychotherapy-based psychoeducation (PPBP) given to individuals with mental illness on forgiveness and psychological well-being. Material and Method: The study was conducted between October 2021 and February 2023 in a randomized controlled manner. The study was completed with 120 individuals diagnosed with mental illness (60 experiment and 60 control) who were treated at the TOTM psychiatry clinic. Eight sessions of PPBP training were given to the experimental group in the study. No attempt was made to the control group. (Descriptive Characteristics Form, Heartland Forgiveness and Psychological Well-Being Scale) was applied in the research. In the analysis of the data, number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square, dependent and independent groups t-test was used. Results: It was determined that the mean scores of the experimental group's post-test scale sub-dimensions, forgiveness of others and forgiveness scale total score were statistically significant (p<0.05). It was determined that the post-test forgiveness scale total score average and the forgive others scale sub-dimension total score average in the experimental group increased compared to the control group. It was determined that the total mean score of the experimental group post-test psychological well-being scale was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that PPBP training given to individuals with mental illness was effective in increasing the level of forgiveness and psychological well-being. These results suggest that PPBP training can be applied to all patient groups in the psychiatry clinic, and that these trainings should be given to mental health and psychiatry nurses working in the psychiatry clinic. Keywords: Forgiveness, positive psychotherapy, psychiatric nursing, psychoeducation, psychological well-being, mental illnesses