The process of developing a mental health promotion plan for the Irish health service

ABSTRACT

Despite the increasing recognition of the importance of mental health promotion, its implementation in practice remains underdeveloped in most countries. Having a standalone strategy ensures commitment to delivering on mental health promotion within the political and policy system.

Objective

This paper outlines the process of developing the first Mental Health Promotion Plan for the health service in Ireland. The process of developing the Plan, together with key reflections and learnings from the experience are outlined.

Method

The framework for the development of the Mental Health Promotion Plan, and the processes involved are outlined. The development process constituted three distinct phases over a two and a half year period: (i) planning; (ii) identifying core actions; (iii) stakeholder engagement. The steps involved in each of these phases are described.

Results

The Mental Health Promotion Plan takes a lifecourse and settings-based approach, including 27 actions for enhancing protective factors for mental health and minimising risk factors. A wide range of stakeholders from across sectors contributed to the development process.

Discussion

The development of this Plan marks a watershed in placing mental health promotion on the policy agenda at a national level, building on the existing health promotion policy and practice infrastructure in Ireland.

KEYWORDS:

• Mental health promotion
• strategy
• plan
• health service
• Ireland

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge and thank all those who provided their input and expertise into the development of this plan, in particular the HSE Mental Health Promotion Plan Working Group.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 A National Mental Health Promotion Plan will be produced by Healthy Ireland that will be the framework of reference and the overarching context for all mental health promotion and campaign activity in Ireland (p. 26 Sharing the Vision)

2 https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/healthwellbeing/our-priority-programmes/mental-health-and-wellbeing/hse-mental-health-promotion-plan.pdf

3 The CES is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the design, development, implementation and evaluation of public policies and services in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

4 The Healthy Ireland Survey is an annual interviewer administered face-to-face survey of a representative sample of the population (aged 15 and over) living in Ireland. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/9ef45-the-healthy-ireland-survey-2021/

Additional information

Funding

The Health Service Executive in Ireland funded the development of this Mental Health Promotion Plan.