Positive Social Determinants of Health and Suggested Priorities for Clinical Care and Research

Positive psychiatry extends traditional psychiatric care by promoting resilience, wisdom, well-being, and human flourishing alongside prevention and treatment of mental illnesses. This article examines the role of positive social determinants of health (PSDoHs) as protective social, economic, and environmental conditions that support mental health across individual, community, and societal levels. Integration of PSDoHs within a biopsychosocial framework could strengthen clinical care, research, education, and policy by shifting the focus from deficits to strengths. Key domains include social connectedness, economic stability, neighborhood environments, faith and spirituality, health care access, immigration, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Advancing positive psychiatry through a strengths-based, person-centered approach offers opportunities to reduce disparities, improve well-being, and promote equitable mental health outcomes across diverse populations. Suggested priorities are specified for clinical, research, and policy considerations.