Abstract Guidance Questions
The following questions for each of the public health strategies featured in this conference can provide additional guidance to abstract submitters. We give preference to abstracts that answer some of these questions.
Reporting on research on promotion and prevention
- Is inequality a cause of or caused by mental health disorders?
- What methods and policies are available to develop knowledge that can be used to identify mental health needs, inequality and risk factors and to develop programs to address inequalities?
- Are different problems (mental, physical, economic and social) related to each other and what does this mean for developing “equality” programs?
- How can we integrate a cultural dimension into programs designed to address inequality?
- What can be done to encourage multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral working to identify and address inequalities in communities?
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Influencing advocacy and policy
- What models of effective policies and infra-structures for prevention and health promotion policies are available to address issues of inequality? Which of these work in developing or developed countries or both?
- How do we include the economically/socially disadvantaged when designing social, health,
education and employment programs? - In what way do we evaluate the short and long-term outcomes of programs designed to reduce inequalities in mental health promotion?
- Would a separate policy for mental health promotion and prevention be more effective in reducing inequalities than an integrated policy that was an integral part of a national /regional public health policy?
- How can we influence politicians and policy makers and implementers to take a real interest in the socially disadvantaged and the people discriminated against?
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Developing stakeholder partnerships
- Who are the important stakeholders for mental health promotion and prevention and how do we bring them together? How do we ensure a more equitable share of resources and benefits among the different stakeholders?
- How do we develop effective and sustainable partnerships among the different stakeholders and in so doing how are the rights of all stakeholders respected?
- In what ways can we address effectively variations in interest among stakeholders? How can we address differences in value systems, cultural orientation and the “rewards/benefits” of participation?
- What roles should be played by the different stakeholders in the development, evaluation, dissemination and implementation of effective programs and policies? How best can we use the skills and knowledge of socially excluded individuals and groups?
- What examples of effective stakeholder partnerships exist to demonstrate how the needs of those with a mental disorder are appropriately addressed?
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Implementing effective programs
- Why is evidence-based prevention and promotion important? What do we mean by these terms? Do they mean the same to different cultural and racial groups?
- What effective and evidence-based programs are currently in existence to promote equality and reduce discrimination? How have these programs been evaluated?
- What are the advantages and benefits of exchanging effective programs and policies across communities? What steps are necessary to make such exchanges meaningful? How do we ensure effective implementation in different settings?
- How do we best involve the recipients/uses of such programs in the design, development, implementation and evaluation processes?
- In what way can we enhance the large scale implementation of programs that work? How do we address cultural and racial variations? What specific skills are required to manage such a process?
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Developing an effective workforce for promotion and prevention
- Who within the workforce should have a role in promotion and prevention (e.g. stakeholders groups, community leaders, professionals)?
- In what way can we educate and train an effective workforce? What competences are required? Who makes the major decisions? What part should be played by users/recipients of the service?
- Who should take responsibility for developing and monitoring such a workforce and for providing training resources? How can we ensure effective use of resources?
- How can we encourage a “learning community”to generate new knowledge and expertise? What skills are needed? Who should be members of such a community?
- What are the options for developing an effective workforce in low income countries and disadvantaged communities? Do we have such examples?
