Impact of a population-wide mental health promotion campaign on people with a diagnosed mental illness or recent mental health problem

Aust N Z J Public Health. 2016 Jun;40(3):274-5. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12514. Epub 2016 Mar 30.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the impact of the Act-Belong-Commit mental health promotion campaign on people with a diagnosed mental illness or who had sought professional help for a mental health problem in the previous 12 months.

Method: In 2013 and 2014, 1,200 adults in Western Australia were interviewed by telephone. The questionnaire measured campaign reach, impact on beliefs about mental health and mental illness and behavioural impact.

Results: Campaign impact on changing the way respondents thought about mental health was significantly higher among those with a mental illness or who had sought help (41.4% vs 24.2%; p<0.001), as was doing something for their mental health as a result of their exposure to the campaign (20.5% vs 8.7%; p<0.001).

Conclusions: The campaign appears to empower people with a mental illness or who recently sought help to take steps of their own to enhance their mental health.

Keywords: campaign evaluation; empowerment; mental health promotion; mental illness prevention.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Promotion* / methods
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Mental Health
  • Program Evaluation
  • Western Australia