Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health and mentality launch new briefing paper on mental health promotion

28 January 2004

Mental health promotion can be of real and lasting benefit to both individuals and communities, says a new briefing paper published today by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (SCMH) and its affiliate mentality.

Mental health promotion aims to strengthen individuals and communities, reduce barriers to good mental health, and promote inclusion for people with mental health problems. This briefing highlights examples of good practice across the UK to help those responsible for implementing mental health promotion strategies.

Elizabeth Gale, Acting Chief Executive of mentality, said: "Mental health promotion has been overlooked for too long. It is nearly five years since it was made a nationwide requirement by the National Service Framework [NSF] for Mental Health. The vast majority of primary care trusts have now set up mental health promotion strategies. But these strategies are meaningless without effective implementation. The clear examples of good practice in this briefing are an essential first point of reference for all those involved in this process."

The briefing also argues for the development of new indicators to measure the effectiveness of mental health promotion in terms of mental wellbeing and quality of life, rather than just by the effect on suicide rates and on the prevalence of severe mental health problems. Successful mental health promotion programmes should result in good mental health, rather than just the absence of mental health problems.

Dr Matt Muijen, SCMH Chief Executive, said: "The prioritisation of mental health promotion in the NSF guidelines is forcing services to look at the way mental health issues are tackled in the wider community. This is a positive step towards improving the mental health of the nation, but needs to continue to be a priority in everyday practice at the highest possible level."

Download Briefing paper 24 (291 KB).