Mental Health Promotion
The World Health Organisation has predicted that depression will be the world’s leading cause of disability by 2020, generating a need for a shift in focus to the prevention and promotion of mental health, rather than purely focussing on the treatment end of the intervention spectrum. Below are some modules that will help to deliver a holistic health promotion strategy.
Modules could cover the following:
1. Background
• Building a shared understanding of mental health and mental health promotion
• The socio-economic rationale for mental health promotion
• The importance of culture in developing a mental health promotion strategy
• Common principles and opportunities for effective mental health promotion
• Examples of effective mental health promotion programs from other countries
• Effect of non-health policies on mental health
2. Understanding Context
• Where are we now? Defining the current socio-political, economic and cultural context for building mental health promotion frameworks
• Building on current assets and success: Where is good mental health promotion already occurring within our own context? How do we do more of this?
• Who are our potential allies in this work? Who else could be included to support the work? How can we engage them?
3. Planning for Success: Developing a Sustainable Mental Health Promotion Strategy
• What mental health interventions might easily be achievable now?
• What interventions will need more work?
• Building an action plan
• How will we know if we have been successful? Developing an evaluation strategy