Mental health support program (MHS) – Case report from Slovenia

BACKGROUND: MHS is a program adapted for general public. It aims to increase knowledge and awareness about mental disorders and equip individuals with skills to recognize and respond to people in mental distress. The program increases the potential for a timely intervention and reduces stigma and as such adds to combating public mental health problems. The aim of this presentation is to present the development and implementation of the MHS program in Slovenia. OBJECTIVES: We developed and adapted MHS guidelines for depression and suicidality, launched a social media campaign and prepared a short awareness-raising film on MHS. Central to the intervention is a 5-hour educational program, covering a theoretical and a practical part on how to recognize, approach and help an individual. We were interested if (i) the program increases the knowledge of participants in regards to related topics and (ii) it affects their self-perceived competencies to approach and help an individual. RESULTS: The program was free of charge, open to the public and delivered to groups of maximum 25 participants (so far five groups). The evaluation showed that the program was well received, especially the practical parts (role-play). The participants reported of having acquired new knowledge, felt more confident in recognizing and responding to mental health problems and exhibited a higher level of self-perceived competencies to approach and help someone in distress. The results are of preliminary nature, but the first insights are promising. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of knowledge can directly hinder offering help to someone who is in mental distress. Support, even when offered by an informal source, can positively affect help seeking behavior of those in need and potentially be lifesaving. KEY MESSAGES: • MHS can influence the timely recognition and referral to formal sources of help. • The program can contribute to narrowing the help seeking gap and influence mental health outcomes in the community.