Building mental health promotion capacity in health care: results from Phase I of a workforce development project

Abstract

The development of mental-health-promoting health care systems is dependent on having a skilled and informed workforce to effectively integrate mental health promotion (MHP) into programme and service delivery. This paper describes Phase I (September 2009-July 2010) of Health Compass, an innovative, multi-phased project that aims to transform health care practice and shift organizational culture by enhancing the capacity of health care providers to further promote patient, client and family mental well-being. Phase I of Health Compass examined the current state of MHP within British Columbia's Provincial Health Service Authority health care services. The findings, based on group discussions and key informant interviews, examined health care providers' current understanding and knowledge of MHP; identified existing strategies, facilitators and barriers that help or hinder the incorporation of MHP into health care practice and services; and identified preferred learning modalities for development and piloting of future MHP resources in Phases II and III.

Keywords::

• mental health promotion
• mental well-being
• health care workforce
• health care
• capacity building

Acknowledgements

The authors thank members of the Health Compass: Transformative Practices, Embracing Mental Wellbeing Project Steering Committee for their invaluable feedback and advice at all stages of the work. In addition, the authors also thank all Provincial Health Service Authority staff and health care providers who participated in Phase I of Health Compass.

Notes

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to the Project Manager, Health Compass: Transformative Practices, Embracing Mental Wellbeing, BC Mental Health & Addiction Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, 201-601 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Email: [email protected]