Recent highlights
Public announcement of Phase 2 of the MHP-IF
Cue the fanfare! Fifteen projects funded as part of the second phase of the Mental Health Promotion and Innovation Fund (MHP-IF) have now been publicly announced. Announcements were made by The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Members from two MHP-IF project teams (Enhanced Wellness of Refugee Children, Youth, and Families; Families in TRANSition) were present in-person to make statements. The MHP-IF is a 10-year Public Health Agency of Canada funding program consisting of three phases. The program aims to improve mental health for individuals and communities, reduce systemic barriers for population mental health in Canada, and improve Canadian public mental health policy and practice. More information about the public announcements can be found in a recent blog on the Hub’s website.
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Hub May webinar: “Unscripted” – Courage to Embrace the Unexpected
This webinar was the first time that the MHP-IF community convened since the Hub’s annual symposium and a first virtual opportunity for the community to get acquainted with the Hub’s new Scientific Co-Directors, Drs. Alice Schmidt Hanbidge and Colleen McMillan. We heard a little bit about Alice and Colleen’s backgrounds, including stories about situations where things didn’t quite go as planned in their work. Project team members were then invited to shared their own experiences navigating and learning from unexpected situations. Read more in the webinar Event Brief.
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Hub June webinar: Health Equity Indicators Tool (HEIT)
Equity is a core focus of the MHP-IF, particularly as part of Phase 2. Supports aimed at enhancing equity-based mental health promotion will continue to be rolled out by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Hub over the course of the program. The Hub’s June webinar was led by Andrea Simpson, a Senior Policy Analyst from PHAC’s MHP-IF team, and advanced information shared in an introductory equity-focused webinar (June 2021). Andrea provided updates to PHAC’s Health Equity Indicators Tool (HEIT), a resource designed to assist projects in strengthening capacity to integrate, monitor and assess impacts related to health equity. The webinar Event Brief provides a link to the recording.
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The June Hub webinar focused on the Public Health Agency of Canada's
Health Equity Indicators Tool (HEIT)
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Looking Ahead
Round 2 of the MHP-IF Project Community Study coming soon!
Over the course of the past two years of the MHP-IF, the Hub team has endeavored to facilitate knowledge exchange and strengthen connections between project teams. One of the most thrilling aspects of the Hub team’s work is seeing these connections happen in real time and witnessing mutual learning and collaboration. Understanding the evolution of these connections is one of the purposes of the Project Community Study. The study’s first round of data collection took place in Winter 2020, relatively early in the MHP-IF, and provided a description of community members, expectations for community membership, as well as a baseline for existing connections between MHP-IF project teams. A second round of data collection is planned for this summer. MHP-IF project leads can expect an invitation to a short online survey in their inboxes in the coming weeks.
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On the horizon: More Hub supports for theories of change
Theories of change can be used to build shared understanding and inform all aspects of project activities, including evaluation planning. As part of Phase 2, MHP-IF project teams will develop evaluation plans grounded in a well-reasoned theory of change. To support this work, the Hub will kick off a series of workshops this fall. Annotated resources about theories of change and a recording of an introductory webinar are available in the meantime.
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New knowledge products from Phase 1
Phase 1 of the MHP-IF may be over but there’s still lots to learn from project stories shared as part of the Hub-led cross-project Pandemic Adaptation Study. Upcoming knowledge products will use a variety of formats and focus on topics such as mental health promotion for specific population groups (Indigenous, Newcomer/ Immigrant/ Refugee, LGBTQ2S+), youth engagement, and cultural sensitivity. As always, the Hub will seek permission to use identifying content and details by getting in touch with study participants.
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The KDE Hub supports connections and learning amongst those who aspire to optimal mental health promotion for all Canadians. One way we do this is seeking and sharing timely resources, events and research from the field of mental health promotion. Here are a few of the items that have caught our attention recently:
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The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health has developed a Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms which provides standardized definitions and consistent terminology for concepts related to health equity.
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Also from the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, Let’s Talk: Intersectionality teaches the core concepts of intersectionality.
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Mental Health Promotion Knowledge Competencies is a new resource from the International Union for Health Promotion and Education that articulates foundational knowledge unique to mental health promotion.
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The Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource from School Mental Health Ontario provides educators with mental health practices that can help promote mental health in elementary schools.
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This Editorial Perspective takes a systematic look at the overall nature of COVID-19 related research on mental health in children and youth, to gain insight into the major trends in this area of research and inform future lines of investigation, clinical practices, and policies.
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The Canadian Institute for Health Information released their latest data on child and youth mental health, including impacts of the pandemic.
Let us know if there are new resources, events or research you would like us to share. We love to hear from you: kdehub@uwaterloo.ca.
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The Knowledge Development and Exchange Hub is dedicated to optimal mental health promotion across Canada. Our niche is supporting projects funded through federal mental health promotion programs and a broader community with shared interests. Learn more at kdehub.ca. |
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