Evidence-based mental health promotion resource - health.vic.gov.au

Evidence-based mental health promotion resource3AbstractObjectivesTo review the evidence on mental health promotion from determinants of healthapproaches, and to highlight strategies for policy and practice that will strengthenmental health among populations.DesignThe evidence on interventions to promote mental health and wellbeing was reviewedfor effective practice developments.SettingThe resource was compiled for VicHealth and the Victorian Department of HumanServices in 2005 to support the VicHealth Framework for the Promotion of MentalHealth and Wellbeing and the Department of Human Services Common PlanningFramework for Health Promotion.ResultsFinding evidence of what works in mental health promotion is a vast undertakingbecause such a range of evidence can be considered. Given the relative recency ofmental health promotion as a field of endeavour, the extent of programs with strongevidence is perhaps surprising. Many emergent programs would benefit from astrengthening of research design to enable the measurement of more robust outcomes.More established mental health promotion areas can be adapted or replicated locally,either integrated into existing programs or run as stand-alone programs. There is muchscope for health promotion practitioners to include mental health promotion outcomesin a range of programs, and to develop skills and knowledge in thinking about themental health benefits of programs in many sectors and settings.ConclusionsEnsuring communities and populations have the opportunity for good mental healthand wellbeing requires work across individual, community, organisational andsocietal and levels. Mental health promotion is certainly about predicting the possibleeffects of government policy in promoting or demoting mental health, as well as theability of government to provide leadership for public and private sector activity. Atindividual, community and organisational levels, the evidence reviewed in this resourcedemonstrates that there is much that policy makers and program staff can do to activelypromote mental health.