Exploring Support Provided by Community Managed Organisations to Address Health Risk Behaviours Associated with Chronic Disease among People with Mental Health Conditions: A Qualitative Study with Organisational Leaders

Abstract

People living with mental health conditions experience a significantly reduced life expectancy compared to people without, largely linked to health risk behaviours and associated chronic disease. Community managed organisations (CMOs) represent an important setting in which to address health risk behaviours among people with mental health conditions. However, little is known about how these behaviours (smoking, poor nutrition, alcohol consumption, inadequate physical activity, poor sleep: SNAPS) are being addressed in this setting. One-on-one, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a sample of 12 senior staff, representing 12 CMOs in New South Wales, Australia to: (1) explore types of support provided by CMOs to address the SNAPS behaviours of consumers living with a mental health condition; and (2) assess perceived organisational and staff level barriers and facilitators to providing such support. Transcribed interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. This study found there was a range of supports offered by CMOs, and these differed by health risk behaviour. Findings suggest CMOs are well-placed to embed SNAPS supports as a part of their service provision; however, available funding, consistency of supports, workplace policies and culture, collaboration with other available supports, staff training and education, all impacted capacity.

Exploring personal aptitudes and personality traits that, together with social determinants, shape health behaviors and conduct: a thematic analysis based on the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behavior (COM-B) change system

“…Understanding health behaviors and conduct is a complex task since they are influenced by a variety of factors, such as personal characteristics, mental health, and the social, environmental, and cultural contexts in which people live ( 7 , 8 ). Personal and labor liabilities, socialization, care work, and labor overcharge, may significantly influence people’s health behaviors and conduct; therefore, a biopsychosocial focus seems to promise better results in health promotion programs and the population’s self-care ( 9 ).…”

Co‐development of implementation strategies to assist staff of a mental health community managed organisation provide preventive care for health behaviours

“…CMOs employ staff from a variety of professional backgrounds, including mental health work and peer work, who have frequent contact with consumers over extended periods of time 13 . Recent evidence demonstrates staff of CMOs recognise both the importance of supporting consumers to improve multiple health behaviours, 14 and that following evidence‐based models such as the AAR framework improves the consistency of preventive care delivery 12,15 . However, research investigating the current levels of preventive care in CMOs demonstrate variable levels across behaviours 15,16 .…”