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

Treatment and prevention alone are unlikely to make a significant difference in reducing the burden of poor mental health and mental illness. Therefore, mental health promotion (MHP) initiatives are advocated. In 2014, the ABCs of mental health (ABCs) partnership was established in Denmark; in the p...

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Main Authors: Carsten Hinrichsen, Vibeke Jenny Koushede, Katrine Rich Madsen, Line Nielsen, Nanna Gram Ahlmark, Ziggi Ivan Santini, Charlotte Meilstrup
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5819
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spelling doaj-b71f614f482f41c1bad9c17dd21417012020-11-25T03:37:01ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012020-08-01175819581910.3390/ijerph17165819Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in DenmarkCarsten Hinrichsen0Vibeke Jenny Koushede1Katrine Rich Madsen2Line Nielsen3Nanna Gram Ahlmark4Ziggi Ivan Santini5Charlotte Meilstrup6The Danish National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestraede 6, 1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 2A, 1353 Copenhagen, DenmarkThe Danish National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestraede 6, 1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkThe Danish National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestraede 6, 1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkThe Danish National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestraede 6, 1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkThe Danish National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestraede 6, 1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkThe Danish National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Studiestraede 6, 1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkTreatment and prevention alone are unlikely to make a significant difference in reducing the burden of poor mental health and mental illness. Therefore, mental health promotion (MHP) initiatives are advocated. In 2014, the ABCs of mental health (ABCs) partnership was established in Denmark; in the partnership, partner organisations, e.g., municipalities and NGOs, use a research-based framework for MHP, the ABC-framework, to develop and implement MHP initiatives. This paper has two aims: (1) to outline the overall characteristics of these MHP initiatives; and (2) to explore local coordinator and stakeholder perceptions of the implementation processes and the impact of the MHP initiatives. Questionnaire surveys, individual interviews and group interviews were conducted during 2017–2020. The MHP initiatives were grouped according to three strategies: building MHP capacity, campaign activities to promote mental health awareness and knowledge and establishing and promoting opportunities to engage in mentally healthy activities. The ABC-framework was positively received and viewed as providing relevant knowledge for working with MHP as well as fostering intersectoral and interprofessional collaborations. However, using a bottom-up approach to develop and implement MHP initiatives can be time-consuming and resource demanding, and it requires a deliberate balancing of local adaptability and concrete guidance when engaging stakeholders and implementers. Overall, using the ABC-framework to develop and implement MHP initiatives holds great promise for advancing and promoting MHP practice.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5819mental health promotionwell-beingsalutogenesisimplementationpartnershipprocess evaluation
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Carsten Hinrichsen
Vibeke Jenny Koushede
Katrine Rich Madsen
Line Nielsen
Nanna Gram Ahlmark
Ziggi Ivan Santini
Charlotte Meilstrup
spellingShingle Carsten Hinrichsen
Vibeke Jenny Koushede
Katrine Rich Madsen
Line Nielsen
Nanna Gram Ahlmark
Ziggi Ivan Santini
Charlotte Meilstrup
Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
mental health promotion
well-being
salutogenesis
implementation
partnership
process evaluation
author_facet Carsten Hinrichsen
Vibeke Jenny Koushede
Katrine Rich Madsen
Line Nielsen
Nanna Gram Ahlmark
Ziggi Ivan Santini
Charlotte Meilstrup
author_sort Carsten Hinrichsen
title Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark
title_short Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark
title_full Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark
title_fullStr Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark
title_full_unstemmed Implementing Mental Health Promotion Initiatives—Process Evaluation of the ABCs of Mental Health in Denmark
title_sort implementing mental health promotion initiatives—process evaluation of the abcs of mental health in denmark
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1661-7827
1660-4601
publishDate 2020-08-01
description Treatment and prevention alone are unlikely to make a significant difference in reducing the burden of poor mental health and mental illness. Therefore, mental health promotion (MHP) initiatives are advocated. In 2014, the ABCs of mental health (ABCs) partnership was established in Denmark; in the partnership, partner organisations, e.g., municipalities and NGOs, use a research-based framework for MHP, the ABC-framework, to develop and implement MHP initiatives. This paper has two aims: (1) to outline the overall characteristics of these MHP initiatives; and (2) to explore local coordinator and stakeholder perceptions of the implementation processes and the impact of the MHP initiatives. Questionnaire surveys, individual interviews and group interviews were conducted during 2017–2020. The MHP initiatives were grouped according to three strategies: building MHP capacity, campaign activities to promote mental health awareness and knowledge and establishing and promoting opportunities to engage in mentally healthy activities. The ABC-framework was positively received and viewed as providing relevant knowledge for working with MHP as well as fostering intersectoral and interprofessional collaborations. However, using a bottom-up approach to develop and implement MHP initiatives can be time-consuming and resource demanding, and it requires a deliberate balancing of local adaptability and concrete guidance when engaging stakeholders and implementers. Overall, using the ABC-framework to develop and implement MHP initiatives holds great promise for advancing and promoting MHP practice.
topic mental health promotion
well-being
salutogenesis
implementation
partnership
process evaluation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5819
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