Building Up Good Mental Health: Guidelines Based On Existing Knowledge

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Knowledge for welfare and health

Monitoring Positive Mental Health Environments: MMHE

Building Up Good Mental Health Guidelines based on existing knowledge Ville Lehtinen

National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health

Knowledge for welfare and health

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Aims of the manual •Present a relevant theoretical framework for constructive mental health work by describing the most important concepts in this context; •Make explicit the impact of certain social and environmental (”structural”) factors on positive mental health by reviewing the main research findings presented during the last decades; •Provide recommendations to health authorities for relevant mental health actions especially at the regional level. National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health

Knowledge for welfare and health

Target group for the manual •Regional health and mental health authorities and decision makers •Mental health and public health professionals •Students of the European Master REGHEALTH •Not specifically the research community National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health

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Knowledge for welfare and health

The guiding principles for writing the manual •The 31 structural indicators in 8 domains, as presented by the MINDFUL Project, as starting point •Not too long: the main text about 30-40 pages •A manual for lay people, not a scientific review •Style and tuning: easy to read; not too technical •Based on sufficient reasearch evidence National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health

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Knowledge for welfare and health

The main sections of the manual

•Introduction: Environmental changes and mental health •Basic concepts: mental health; determinants of mental health; promotion of mental health; structural indicators in the context of mental health policy •Structural determinants of mental health: societal and environmental factors; age and setting related factors •Conclusions and recommendations •Annexes: Examples of effective interventions; selected literature; the MMHE National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health questionnaire

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Knowledge for welfare and health

Summary of the feedback Comments from only two partners : •The decision makers have not time to read long reports; can the size of the manual be reduced? •Clarify the relationship between health promotion and mental health •Is it possible to make a graphic presentation of the main concepts? •The questionnaire should be revised!

Additional feedback more than welcome! National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health

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