Mental health, positive psychology and leadership: a positive autoethnographic case study of Claude-Hélène Mayer
| Date | 31 May 2024 |
| Pages | 1337-1347 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-04-2024-0054 |
| Published date | 31 May 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Claude-Hélène Mayer,Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky |
Mental health, positive psychology and
leadership: a positive autoethnographic
case study of Claude-H
elène Mayer
Claude-H
elène Mayer and Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to meet Dr Claude-H
ele
`ne Mayer, Professor in Industrial and
OrganisationalPsychology at the Universityof Johannesburg, Johannesburg, SouthAfrica.
Design/methodology/approach –This is a qualitative positive autoethnographic case study. Mayer
uses positiveautoethnography to reflect on mental health, positivepsychology and leadership across the
life span.The first author also responds to tenquestions.
Findings –Leadership can be developed and appreciated in others. Leadership can be a positive and
transformative force that can assist and contribute to mental health and well-being. Positive leadership can
be supported by developing wisdom, creativity, critical thinking and conflict andemotional management.
Research limitations/implications –Qualitative research cannot be generalised. Positive
autoethnography reflects the views and experiences of the author, in this case a transdisciplinary and
transculturalresearcher and practitioner.
Practical implications –Readers will find a range of practical recommendations as to how to develop
mental health and leadership and stay positive in challenging times. Academic literature relating to
practicalrecommendations is also shared.
Social implications –Positive leadership has many social implications. It can be a constructive
influence that impacts our lives and benefits our personal development, but also one that impacts the
lives and benefitsthe personal development of other people.
Originality/value –In this original paper, Dr Claude-H
ele
`ne Mayer shares mental health, positive
psychology and leadershipexperiences and recommendations. Leadershipskills are of particular value
in times of complexchange.
Keywords Leadership, Autoethnography, Positive psychology, Positive autoethnography,
Personal development
Paper type Case study
1. Introduction
Positive autoethnography is a pragmatic autoethnographic approach that leans on positive
psychology and positive reflexivity to draw out meaning (Gonot-Schoupinsky et al.,2023;
Gonot-Schoupinsky et al., 2024). This positive autoethnographic account follows one on
positive aging (Shaffer and Gonot-Schoupinsky, 2024), and previous case studies on
laughter and humour (e.g. Morrison et al.,2023;Kataria et al., 2023). Here, Dr Claude-
H
ele
`ne Mayer, a Professor in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, is invited to reflect
on mental health, positive psychologyand positive leadership.
Mayer has written extensively on the importanceof promoting mental health (e.g. Mayer and
Krause, 2012;Mayer, 2011;Mayer and Krause, 2012). In Exploring Mental Health:
Theoretical and Empirical Discourses on Salutogenesis,Mayer and Krause (2012) explain
how mental health is associated with salutogenesis, the science of how to maintain and
Claude-H
ele
`ne Mayer is
based at the Department of
Industrial Psychology and
People Management,
University of Johannesburg,
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky
is based at the Department
of Psychology, University of
Bolton, Bolton, UK.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-04-2024-0054 VOL. 28 NO. 6 2024, pp. 1337-1347, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jPAGE 1337
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