Making it effective

A guide to evidence-based mental health promotion

This briefing is a guide to the evidence base for mental health promotion. It includes interventions to promote mental health and well being, to prevent or reduce the risk of mental health problems and to improve quality of life for people with mental health problems.

This reflects the scope of Standard One of the National Service Framework for Mental Health, which requires local strategies to promote mental health for the whole population and for at risk individuals and vulnerable groups, as well as to take action to reduce the discrimination and exclusion experienced by people with mental health problems.

Making It Effective will assist people working to promote mental health across all sectors and settings. It

  • defines mental health and mental health promotion
  • identifies a range of indicators for measuring mental health
  • outlines some of the debates about evidence and effectiveness
  • provides evidence of effectiveness and gives examples of effective interventions for a range of age groups, target groups and key settings
  • provides a glossary of research methods