DOCUMENTING EXISTING PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES AND POLICIES IN THE FIELD OF
MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION

On behalf of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) I would like to
thank you for taking the time to review the following information about
CPHA's Mental Health Promotion project.  CPHA is working in partnership
with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and Health Canada to
carry out a project titled:  "Documenting Existing Projects, Activities and
Policies in the field of Mental Health Promotion."

The objectives of the project are to:

*       raise awareness of Mental Health Promotion in Canada by stimulating
discussion and self-identification of Mental Health Promotion projects or
activities,
*       collect information describing Mental Health Promotion projects and
activities,
*       describe policies that exist, and processes that need to be in place to
formulate policies, in order to support Mental Health Promotion
initiatives,
*       participate in the preparation of a Final Report which can be distributed
widely to individuals and organizations in as many sectors as possible, and
*       enhance the existing network of individuals and organizations interested
in supporting the advancement of Mental Health Promotion in Canada.

The concept of Mental Health Promotion has emerged in recent years and has
been recognized as one of the foundations from which the health and
well-being of individuals, families, communities and societies arise and
develop.  It complements other activities that focus on the treatment and
preventative aspects of mental health.  Mental Health Promotion is an
approach to dealing with everyday realities.  It can be described in many
ways and can be all-encompassing, but for the purposes of this project, it
is expressed as follows:

"Mental Health Promotion is the process of enhancing the capacity of
individuals and communities to take control over their lives and improve
their mental health.  Mental Health Promotion uses strategies that foster
supportive environments and individual resilience, while showing respect
for culture, equity, social justice, interconnections and personal
dignity."
(Proceedings of a Workshop on Mental Health Promotion, June 20 - 21, 1996,
Toronto, Ontario)

CPHA would value your assistance in providing information about the
projects and activities that are already taking place across Canada.  If
you can identify some or all of the characteristics included in the
expression, principles and goals of Mental Health Promotion in any of the
projects or activities that you are involved in, or of which you have
knowledge, please take a few minutes to complete the following
PROJECT/ACTIVITY INFORMATION SHEET and return it to CPHA.  Please fill out
one Project/Activity Information Sheet as completely as possibly, for each
initiative that you wish to identify.

PLEASE RETURN THE PROJECT/ACTIVITY INFORMATION SHEETS BY MAIL, FAX OR
E-MAIL BY FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 1998, to:

Dr. Liz Roberts
Mental Health Promotion Project
Canadian Public Health Association
400-1565 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario.  K1Z 8R1

Tel:    613-725-3769, extension 150
Fax:  613-725-9826
E-mail:     [log in to unmask]

Dr. Liz Roberts, Senior Program Officer for CPHA's National Programs, will
follow up on the information you have contributed with a personal telephone
call to enable you to provide more details and clarification.  Any
information you choose to contribute may be included in the final report
and distributed across the country.  You will receive a copy of the final
report when it is available.

We are trying to circulate this information as widely as possible in a
short period of time and apologize in advance if you receive information
through more than one route.  Should this occur, please pass the
information on to colleagues whom you think are interested in Mental Health
Promotion.

Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Liz Roberts at CPHA by telephone
(613-725-3769, extension 150) or by e-mail ([log in to unmask]) if you have
any questions or require further information.  We thank you in advance for
your time in reviewing our request and welcome your willingness to share
your knowledge and experiences.


                 MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION - WHAT IS IT?


WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION?

*       addressing issues in the everyday life context of individuals

*       building on participant's/community's competencies and strengths/capacity
building

*       demonstrating cultural sensitivity and responsiveness

*       involving participant's/community's control/empowerment

*       involving meaningful consumer participation

*       ensuring the personal dignity of individuals

*       taking an holistic approach to health/considering the whole person,
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health

YOU MAY BE INVOLVED IN MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION WITHOUT REALIZING IT!

Many public health and health promotion programs contain elements of Mental
Health Promotion which contribute to the success of the initiative and have
a significant impact on the general health and well-being of participants.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION?

The Building Helping Skills project was developed in response to the
effects of the cod moratorium on the mental health of individuals in
Newfoundland's rural communities.  In order to fill in the gaps left by
limited and overburdened formal helping resources, the project built on the
innate helping skills of individuals and established a network of trained
community volunteers to assist people with emotional and social needs.
(information provided by R. Mauricette, Canadian Mental Health Association)

In a prenatal education program serving a culturally diverse neighbourhood,
participants determine the course curriculum and learn by sharing
experiences and building on skills.  The program goes beyond the anatomy
and physiology of pregnancy and labour, to include the social, mental,
emotional and spiritual health of its participants.  The program is guided
by principles that ensure that the course content reflects the life
situations of the participants and has a formal mechanism for recognizing
and responding to cultural variations in child-bearing beliefs among
program participants.  (information provided by R. Mauricette, Canadian
Mental Health Association)

A stress management training program for low income women in Québec proved
effective by reducing anxiety and depression.  In addition, participants
reported that the program increased their sense of control over their
environment and enabled them to act positively, e.g. returning to school,
changing their living situations and finding work.  (Mental Health
Promotion: The Time is Now, N. Joubert, L. Taylor and I. Williams, Mental
Health Promotion Unit, Health Canada, June 1997)



WHAT DOES MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION SET OUT TO ACHIEVE?

The purpose of Mental Health Promotion includes the following essential
elements:

*     INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
Life is a constant up and down, and we can never get rid of problems,
crises, sorrow and pain.  Being able to bounce back in the face of these
inevitabilities is an important aspect of mental health. (Joubert &
Raeburn, 1997)
Mental health promotion attempts to increase people's ability to deal with
life's challenges. *

*     EMPOWERMENT AND SELF-EFFICACY
Increasing people's sense of control and mastery is crucial for everyone,
whether they live in an institution, or in the community.  Whether in the
workplace, at home or in the community, whether young or old, all people
have to have power and control over their own lives in order to have good
mental health.  This fundamental principle can be applied whenever and
wherever mental health promotion takes place.  *

*     INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY COPING
Coping refers to the cognitive and physical skills and resources available
to and used by individuals to help them deal with the problems, stress and
strains of daily living, or life events causing stress.  Mental health
promotion can help to "normalize daily experiences (instead of creating
fear) by focusing on coping rather than diagnosing, by validating people's
feelings, and acknowledging stress". *

*Excerpts from Mental Health Promotion by Catherine Willinsky and Bonnie
Pape.  Social Action Series, Canadian Mental Health Association.



PROJECT/ACTIVITY INFORMATION SHEET

TITLE OF PROJECT/ACTIVITY:





1.      IDENTIFICATION OF CONTACT PERSON FOR PROJECT/ACTIVITY
        Please provide the following information so that further details may be
        obtained as necessary:

        Name:

        Title:

        Organization:

        Address:






        Telephone:
        Fax:
        E-mail:

2.      PROJECT INFORMATION
        Please provide the following information about the project/activity:

        Project/Activity Goal(s):


        Project/Activity Objective(s):



        Partner(s):

        Funding Source:

        Budget and Time frame:


Dr. Liz Roberts
Senior Program Officer, National Programs
Canadian Public Health Association,
Suite 400 - 1565 Carling Avenue,
Ottawa, Ontario.  K1Z 8R1
Telephone: (613) 725-3769 ext 150
Fax: (613) 725-9826
email: [log in to unmask]