Mental Health from aPublic Health Perspective

Presentation to the Mental Health Transformation Working GroupApril 21, 2006

Patty Hayes, Assistant Secretary, Division of Community and Family Health,

Department of Health

Public Health – What’s it all about?

• Everybody’s health – not just people who are sick

• Helping people stay healthy – not just treating them when they’re sick

• Helping communities help people stay healthy

How does public health describe “mental health”?

• It’s about all of us, not just people with mental illness• Relationships – connection with people• Response – behavior, expression of thoughts and

feelings• Resilience – dealing with thoughts, feelings and what

happens to us

A Public Health Approach to Mental Health • Decreasing risk factors• Mental Health examples: • Poverty, • Family violence/child

abuse, • Social isolation

• Increasing protective factors • Mental Health examples:• Social support of family

and friends• Connected to school• Healthy brain

development in infancy

A Public Health Approach to Mental Health (cont.)• Promotion – for everyone• Prevention – for people with risk factors• Early Intervention – at the first sign of a problem• Treatment – where there is a diagnosis

How does public health help people stay healthy?

Strengthening Individual Knowledge & Skills• First Steps works with low income pregnant women

to promote healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes – including identifying and dealing with depression.

• WIC Nutrition Program provides nutrition information and food vouchers to families with low incomes. (low income and poor nutrition are mental health risk factors)

Promoting Community Education• DOH has been sharing the results of our children’s

mental health needs assessment at regional Maternal and Child Health meetings across the state.

• Nutrition and Physical Activity Program works to improve access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. (physical activity is a mental health protective factor)

Educating Providers• Child care health consultants provide information to

child care providers of infants and toddlers about promoting social emotional development and dealing with challenging behaviors in a nurturing way.

• Bright Futures Mental Health training was provided to school nurses.

Fostering Coalitions and Networks• DOH is a member of the Mental Health

Transformation Working Group.• DOH staff participate on the Children’s Subcommittee

of the Mental Health Planning and Advisory Committee.

• DOH staff convenes Partnerships for Promoting Children’s Mental Health.

Changing Organizational Practices• DOH is promoting discussion within the agency and

with local health jurisdictions about the connections between public health and mental health.

• The Office of Maternal and Child Health has identified “optimal mental health and healthy relationships” as one of its priority outcomes.

Influencing Policy and Legislation• DOH staff provided information to advocates

working on a bill to provide mental health consultation in child care settings.