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Mental health promotion across sectors

In the past decades, national and international studies have shown significant declines in population mental health and well-being in most parts of the Western world. Among experts and researchers, there is a growing recognition that mental health promotion (MHP), in addition to treatment and prevention, is important to counteract this trend. MHP aims to strengthen positive aspects of mental health by the application of salutogenic approaches on the individual, group, and societal level. Although the research literature on MHP is increasing, there is currently a need for more research and practice-based knowledge on MHP interventions and practices that are implemented across sectors and professions. In particular, there is a need for investigations into the processes of building the capacity of individuals and systems to perform key tasks within MHP.

Purpose

The aim of this thesis is to investigate practices and processes of implementing and building capacity for MHP in a cross-sectoral setting. The empirical object of the investigation are the practices and implementation of initiatives, conducted between 2017 and 2020, within the partnership ABCs of Mental Health. The thesis is based on three individual research studies with the following aims:

  1. To outline the overall characteristics of the MHP initiatives that are based on the ABC-framework, and to explore local coordinator and stakeholder perceptions of the implementation processes and the impact of these MHP initiatives.
  2. To explore how, for whom, and under which circumstances the processes of action learning can strengthen MHP capacity in a community setting.
  3. To develop a practice-oriented taxonomy of roles within intersectoral MHP practices, and to investigate the interactions across roles within the implementation of MHP practices

Method

Study 1 is based on data from a formative process evaluation conducted within the ABCs partnership. Data production ran from 2017 to 2020 and was based on online evaluation questionnaires from partner organizations, five individual interviews, and 12 group interviews. The informants (n=15) were local project coordinators and stakeholders from four purposefully selected partner organizations. Study 2 and 3 are based on data produced in relation to the pilot implementation of an action learning program. Data included 18 individual interviews, 10 telephone interviews, two group interviews, observations, and documents. The informants (n=21) were participants of the action learning program and stakeholders from the participating organizations.

Project period

Project period: 01.04.2019 – 30.04.2022

Collaboration and funding provider

Partners: The partnership ABCs of mental health

Funding: Nordea-fonden

Ph.D.-thesis

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Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives — Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark

Paper 1

The workings of an action learning program for building mental health promotion capacity – A realist evaluation

Paper 2

Intersectoral mental health promotion – A practice-oriented taxonomy of roles and a study of intersectoral dynamics

Paper 3

Last Updated 19.10.2023