Long-term outcome of a mental health promotion program in Germany

Abstract

Mental health promotion programs (MHP) seek to reduce sub-syndromal symptoms of mental distress and enhance positive mental health. This study evaluates the long-term effects of a mindfulness-based MHP program ('Life Balance') provided by health coaches in a multi-site field setting on mental distress, satisfaction with life and resilience. Using a controlled design, propensity score matching was used to select a control group for participants of the MHP. The total study sample (N = 3624) comprised 83% women, with a mean age of 50 years. Data was collected via mailings 1 year after study entry. Results suggest participants experience reduced emotional distress at 12-month follow-up, with a medium between-group effect size (d = 0.40) for those participants who showed clinically relevant symptoms of mental distress at study entry. The effects of the program were more pronounced in participants with higher initial distress scores. New cases of psychopathological symptoms were prevented in 1 of 16 participants. Satisfaction with life and resilience were enhanced significantly. Our data suggest 'Life Balance' shows long-term effectiveness and indicate it is possible to design MHP programs that serve as both primary and indicated prevention, and that these programs can be applied on a population basis.

Effectiveness of a mindfulness- and skill-based health-promoting leadership intervention on supervisor and employee levels: A quasi-experimental multisite field study.

“…This concept focuses on mindfulness practice under daily life conditions and teaches mindfulness as a skill-based approach rather than on long meditation exercises (Baer, 2015). Meanwhile, this skill-based approach is also being used in healthy populations to facilitate the application of mindfulness in participants' daily lives (e.g., John Lothes et al, 2021;Lyssenko et al, 2015). Various short mindfulness exercises were practiced in which participants learned to focus and open their minds nonjudgmentally, effectively, and one-mindfully toward the present moment to observe what is going on inside and outside without doing anything to change; to describe their thoughts, feelings, and sensations by adding words to their observations; and to participate and immerse themselves in the present moment of their daily life.…”

Psychometric properties of the German version of the Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS).

“…Furthermore, self-reassurance is closely related to several aspects of self-compassion. These aspects of self-compassion include high levels of self-kindness, coping abilities, resilience, and perseverance, as well as low levels of self-criticism (Gilbert et al, 2004; Hermanto & Zuroff, 2016; Hermanto et al, 2016; Kirby, 2017; Lyssenko et al, 2016, 2019) and secure attachment style (Irons, Gilbert, Baldwin, Baccus, & Palmer, 2006).…”

The Wheel of Well‐being: Impact of a community training programme on individual well‐being in Australia

“…Community frameworks have been found to be effective in the promotion of well‐being, focusing on enhancing individual and community capacity through self‐help strategies and strengthening social supports 11 . These frameworks seek to reduce symptoms of mental distress and support well‐being 12 . However, there is a lack of research regarding the implementation of comprehensive or holistic well‐being frameworks at both the individual and community level 13 and the impact of these frameworks on the well‐being of individuals when delivered as a dedicated mental health promotion programme 13…”

“…11 These frameworks seek to reduce symptoms of mental distress and support well-being. 12 However, there is a lack of research regarding the implementation of comprehensive or holistic well-being frameworks at both the individual and community level 13 and the impact of these frameworks on the well-being of individuals when delivered as a dedicated mental health promotion programme. 13…”