Western Australian Mental Wellbeing Guide
The Mental Health Commission (the Commission) believes investing in mental health and wellbeing is an essential element in supporting WA’s overall mental health system.
The Western Australian Mental Health Promotion, Mental Illness, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Prevention Plan 2018-2025 (Prevention Plan) was released in 2018, to guide and inform people about strategies that can help prevent mental health and alcohol and other drug issues in the community.
Since the launch of the Prevention Plan, there has been significant development in research and evidence about mental health promotion and the importance of promoting mental wellbeing.
To better define and strengthen these components of the Prevention Plan, the Commission has developed the Western Australian Mental Wellbeing Guide (Mental Wellbeing Guide).
The Mental Wellbeing Guide aims to improve community understanding of mental wellbeing and provides practical steps for state and local government agencies, communities, non-government and private organisations to plan, develop, implement and evaluate community-based mental wellbeing initiatives.
To accompany the Mental Wellbeing Guide, the Commission, in collaboration with Healthway and the Western Australian Association for Mental Health, has developed a Guide to Assessing Mental Wellbeing Programs. This assessment tool has been created to support those looking to implement evidence-based or evidence-informed wellbeing programs in their communities.
The development of the Mental Wellbeing Guide has been informed by:
- State-wide consultation with 780 people via a series of 92 face-to-face interviews, 29 online focus groups and an online survey;
- a literature review by Prevention United of 333 published papers and grey literature relating to wellbeing;
- an expert reference group;
- targeted consultation with State Government, non-government, private and community organisations, as well as representatives from the lived experience sector.
For further information about this project, please email MHCMentalWellbeingGuide@mhc.wa.gov.au