Prof. Ernst Bohlmeijer

Ernst Bohlmeijer is Professor of Mental Health Promotion at the University of Twente. He obtained his PhD in 2007 with research on using memories and life stories to treat depression in older adults. His work focuses on understanding and promoting well-being and flourishing in the general population, and on developing and evaluating (digital) interventions to improve mental health in both clinical and non-clinical settings.

A leading expert in positive psychology, he integrates approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), life-review methods, and compassion-based interventions. He is editor of the Dutch Handbook of Positive Psychology and author of several widely read self-help books, including Mindfulness for Beginners (Living Life to the Full) and Using Positive Psychology Every Day.

Recently, Professor Bohlmeijer developed the model of sustainable mental health, which highlights that genuine mental health requires both the absence of disorder and the presence of well-being. Mental health reflects the capacity to adapt to life’s challenges, shaped by both barriers (dysfunctional processes) and resources (functional processes). His research advocates for a more balanced psychiatry that embraces personal strengths and growth alongside symptom reduction. Since 2010, he has (co-) authored over 250 scientific publications and numerous books bridging science and practice.

What would mental health care look like if its ultimate goal were no longer the complete elimination of symptoms, but the capacity to adapt and experience well-being in their presence? Research conducted over the past decades demonstrates that sustainable mental health cannot be achieved without sufficient levels of mental well-being. First, mental well-meing and psychological complaints are distinct, underpinning the two-continuum model of mental health. Second, mental well-being predicts mental health outcomes and recovery. Third, patients value mental well-being as central to recovery. Fourth, complete clinical recovery following treatment remains limited for many individuals. These observations have important implications for how mental health care is conceptualized and delivered. In this lecture I introduce a trans-theoretical model of sustainable mental health in which mental well-being is positioned as a central treatment outcome that should be routinely monitored alongside psychological symptoms. The model highlights the importance of a balanced or dual treatment approach that addresses both barriers and resources for adaptation. Finally, I introduce compassion-based positive psychology as a promising approach to strengthen adaptive capacity and promote mental well-being among individuals living with persistent mental health symptoms and present findings from research among people with bipolar and personality disorders.

• Kraiss JT, ten Klooster PM, Chrispijn M, Stevens A, Doornbos B, Kupka RW, Bohlmeijer ET. (2023). A multicomponent positive psychology intervention for euthymic patients with bipolar disorder to improve mental well-being and personal recovery: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Bipolar Disord. 2023;25:683-695. doi: 10.1111/bdi.13313
• Bohlmeijer ET, Kraiss JT, Watkins P, Schotanus-Dijkstra M. (2021). Promoting Gratitude as a Resource for Sustainable Mental Health: Results of a 3-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial up to 6 Months Follow-up. J Happiness Stud. 2021;22:1011-1032. doi: 10.1007/s10902-020-00261-5
• Bohlmeijer E, Westerhof G. (2021). The Model for Sustainable Mental Health: Future Directions for Integrating Positive Psychology Into Mental Health Care. Front Psychol. 2021 Oct 21;12:747999. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.747999
• Wang J, Tönis KJM, Kraiss JT, Drossaert CHC, Schroevers MJ, Bohlmeijer ET. (2025). Can a positive psychology intervention cultivating self-compassion enhance mental health by fostering self-compassion and adaptive capacities? Results from a randomized controlled trial. J Posit Psychol. 2025. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2025.2568840