Strengthening the evidence base for mental health promotion

Mental health promotion is concerned with achieving positive mental health among the general population and addresses the needs of those at risk from, or experiencing mental health problems. The focus of this multidisciplinary area of practice is on enhancing the strengths, competencies and resources of individuals and communities, thereby promoting positive emotional and mental well-being. The underlying principle of this approach is that mental health is a positive concept, which is important in its own right and is an intrinsic component of the broader health promotion agenda. Building on the basic tenets of health promotion, (WHO, 1986) mental health promotion shifts the focus from an individual disease prevention approach towards the health actions and wider social determinants that keep people mentally healthy. Mental health promotion emphasizes that mental health is created where people live their lives and that the everyday contexts or settings, such as the home, school, workplace and community, is where mental health is created and promoted. Mental health promotion is moving onto the global political agenda and there is a momentum behind international and national developments in terms of policy, research and practice in many countries (Marshall-Williams, Saxena & McQueen, 2005). It is therefore critical that there is a strong evidence base to support best practice and policy in meeting the global challenge of promoting population level mental health (WHO World Report, 2001; WHO, 2002a; WHO, 2004a, b) and reducing the increasing burden of mental disorders worldwide (Murray & Lopez, 1996; WHO, 2003). This chapter considers how current progress in demonstrating the effectiveness of mental health promotion can be further strengthened in order to best support international practice and policy.