In our region, we face some serious issues re depression, hopelessness and
suicide. A few years ago we began to set up community displays / info boards
in the rural communities. We have set them up in the local medical centres,
libraries and schools. Theses boards contain info on mental health issues as
well as addictions ( we have used info sheets mainly from the Canadian
Mental Health Association - CMHA - and the Addiction Research Foundation -
now part of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health -CAMH). The feedback
has been quite good. We have received numerous reports from parents that
they take the time to read these while attending school events, even if they
do not take them home. We also distributed a newsletter through the school
system to the local area. Our main concern was to keep the literacy level to
that of the target population. Displays at community fairs, school events,
parent-teacher interviews were used to reinforce the fact that this
information was available.

Recently, we have just begun the process of setting up information kiosks in
all of the local high schools that will provide info on suicide,  mental
health, drug and alcohol use, and other health info. This is also
followed-up with presentations to the local schools (we have a cooperative
group from CMHA, CAMH, and others) and in the community.

Peter Jones
North Victoria Healthy Communities Coalition



HP Coordinator
CMHA Peterborough
349A George St., Ste. 206
Peterborough ON  K9H 3P9
(705) 748-6711 x16
(705) 748-2577 Fax
[log in to unmask]
www.peterborough.cmha.on.ca

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Health Promotion on the Internet [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of <Kelly Wilson>
> Sent: March 5, 2001 3:12 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: effectiveness of mall displays - REACHING PARENTS
> Importance: Low
>
>
> Hi:
>
> I am particularly interested in feedback from public health staff on this
> issue.
>
> The Youth Connection Team ('school team') in my Division wants to target
> parents of children 6-18 years for various health issues. They are
> contemplating going into malls to set up a display to: 1)
> increase parents'
> awareness of the services provided by the program as a whole and showcase
> resources offered; and 2) to increase parents' knowledge (e.g.,
> handouts on
> binge drinking/how to tell if your child is taking drugs etc).
>
> They want to reach out to parents, as 'parent nights' have not been too
> successful (poor attendance). The team is even thinking of setting up
> displays in grocery stores, community centres, arenas (i.e.,
> places parents
> frequent) and in workplaces.
>
> Any feedback would be appreciated. They are in a brainstorming stage, so
> they want to know if any evidence exists elsewhere as to the effectiveness
> of mall displays for getting information to parents of children
> (6-18 yrs).
>
> Thank you in advance.
> Kelly Wilson
> Program Evaluation Coordinator
> Regional Niagara Public Health Department
>