title: Mapping interventions that promote mental health in the general population: A scoping review of reviews.
abstract: Health policies and programs promoting mental health or preventing mental illness in the general public are under-recognized facets of primary prevention. Increasing awareness and adoption of such strategies could reduce the burden of mental illness in individuals, families, communities, and society as whole. We conducted a scoping review of reviews of interventions to promote mental health or prevent mental illness. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL and ERIC from 2004 to 2014. Reviews were included if the authors indicated a systematic approach in their literature searches, and if they comprised interventions in Westernized countries targeting the general population. We identified 39 reviews that met the inclusion criteria. Mental health intervention approaches and outcomes varied across age groups and settings, and included functional, social, and cognitive measures. Most interventions aimed to prevent a specific mental illness or symptoms (depression, anxiety, burnout, or stress). Cognitive-behavioral therapy and educational components were common. School-based programs focused on outcomes involving social and academic development. Interventions for families, especially for young or disadvantaged parents, taught parenting skills to help improve the well-being of children and their care-givers. In the workplace, the focus was on managing stress, while programs for the elderly emphasized quality of life determinants. This review summarizes a wide variety of interventions to promote mental health or prevent mental illness, but the literature is primarily focused on the individual or family unit. More information is required about interventions at the community and societal levels.
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Enns
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wener
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halas
authors.affiliation: Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothney
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goertzen
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Electronic address: alan_katz@cpe.umanitoba.ca.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic
keywords: Mental health promotion; Mental illness; Mental well-being; Primary prevention; Resilience; Scoping review