Week 10 Mind Map: Mental Health Promotion

  1. The Canadian context demonstrates promising trends when it comes to practices in mental health promotion, but continued progress is required.
  1. IUHPE offers critical calls to action for health promoters to address current population mental health needs and programming gaps for Canadians.
  1. High quality leadership skills are an essential requirement to promote mental health and wellbeing.
  1. Since 2012, Canada's national commitment to promote mental health has seen mixed results.
  1. There are several key barriers and facilitators to integrating mental health promotion, including a lack of a common agenda (barrier) and adherence to essential guiding principles (facilitator).

1.2 BC First Nation's Path Forward is an example of transformative mental health policy

1.3 Sustainability of efforts is critical to their success, and this has been a problem in Canada

1.1 National strategy released in 2012 to address service-delivery and mental illness prevention needs

1.1.1 social determinants of health focus

1.1.2 Creating a mental health system that supports the needs of all ages, including both individuals and families

1.2.1 Acknowledging social, historical, and structural determinants

1.2.2 Addressing social determinants of health through social supports, housing, early childhood initiatives, cultural safety, etc.

1.3.1 Strategies must be well-managed with appropriate resources

1.3.2 Comprehensive approaches are required to sustain progress - reducing risk factors, promoting protective factors, and addressing social determinants

2.2 Hindered by misconception that mental health is only an issue for those experiencing metal harsdhip

2.3 A common agenda is required to integrate strategies across disciplines, sectors and geography

2.1 Facilitated by Interrelated principles such as positive conceptualization, meaningful engagement, building on existing strengths, collaboration, and multisectoral approaches

2.1.1 Adherence to as many as possible ensures a holistic approach

2.1.2 Not always the reality

2.2.1 misconception of mental and physical health as seperate issues further complicates health promotion strategies

2.2.2 Influenced by neoliberal tendency to place onus on the individual

2.3.1 Need to embed mental health promotion into other practices of social work

2.3.2 Building (mentally) healthy public policy

3.2 White Raven Healing Centre takes an interdisciplinary approach to improving mental wellness among First Nations communities

3.3 The Ontario Provincial System Support Program provides systems-level support toward mental health promotion and substance use initiatives

3.1 BC Healthy Connections demonstrates leadership through home-visiting program to help disadvantaged young mothers and children

3.1.1 Improving children's mental health/early development while improving life conditions for mothers - facilitated by public health nurses

3.1.2 Enabled by stable funding, but hard to reach nature of the population is a barrier

3.2.1 Open door policy in addition to crisis support and community outreach

3.2.2 Enabled by cultural competency, but hindered by unstable funding

3.3.1 Sharing evidence through webinars and conferences while investing in strategic partnerships

3.3.2 Enabled by strong leadership but hindered by limited resources including evidence and expertise

4.2 Leadership is key to shifting workforce culture at individual, team and organizational levels

4.3 Leading by example is not only key to the success of your own program, but can be a huge benefit for programs around you

4.1 Resources and leadership skills are critical to mental health promotion program success

4.1.1 Required to build and sustain partnerships, and coordinate efforts in accordance with national strategy

4.1.2 Mentoring, coaching, recognition, encouraging empowerment among staff

4.2.1 Values, assumptions and norms need to be oriented toward progress and consider importance of self-reflexivity

4.2.2 Shapes how people think, act, and ultiamtely how things get done

4.3.1 Metrics are essential for identifying indicators for success that resonate with all and that program is sustainable

4.3.2 Everyone has a role to play, sometimes just need help realizing

5.2 Building the mental health promotion workforce and organization capacity should be key targets for investment

5.3 More evidence is needed across the board - mental health promotion programs should be evidence-informed, as effective action is promptly required

5.1 Lessons can be learned from COVID-19 pandemic to take a systems approach to promoting population mental health and wellness

5.1.1 Highlighted inequities in society that are only getting worse - mental health is a factor here

5.1.2 Intersectoral approach

5.2.1 More brainpower is needed

5.2.2 Equity-deserving populations need better representation at practitioner level

5.3.1 Need more data on disparities among sub-populations to better address inequities

5.3.2 The context of mental health is constantly evolving - findings should be shared as soon and as often as possible