Perspectives and Outcomes of a Long and Shorter Community Mental Health Program
The development of the 7-week Alberta Happiness Basics program was initiated in 2010 in response to the need for community mental health programming. This provincial wide program aims to increase overall happiness and reduce negative thoughts and feelings through a positive psychology intervention. While the 7-week program has proven effective, a shortened 4-week program has additionally been developed to address client needs. In this study, participants were interviewed to determine if the 4- and 7-week programs had similar success of producing lasting behavior change at 3, 6, and 9 months post-program. A health quality of life (HQOL) measure was also used to compare the two programs and examine patient outcomes. Quantitative and qualitative analysis showed significant improvements in HQOL and sustainable behavior change for both programs. Findings indicate that the shorter, patient-centered program was effective in increasing happiness and reducing negative thoughts and feelings.
[1] World Health Organization. (2017). Depression: Let’s talk. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2017/en
[2] McDaniel, S. H., & deGruy, F. I. (2014). An introduction to primary care and psychology. American Psychologist, 69(4), 325-331. doi:10.1037/a0036222.
[3] Statistics Canada. (2017). Canadian Community Health Survey, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170322/dq170322a-eng.htm
[4] Bilsker, D., Goldner, E. M., & Jones, W. (2007). Health service patterns indicate potential benefit of supported self-management for depression in primary care. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 52(2), 86-95.
[5] Loh, A., Leonhart, R., Wills, C. E., Simon, D., & Härter, M. (2007). The impact of patient participation on adherence and clinical outcome in primary care of depression. Patient Education and Counseling, 6569-78. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2006.05.007
[6] Craner, J. R., Sawchuk, C. N., & Smyth, K. T. (2016). Outcomes of a 6-week cognitive–behavioral and mindfulness group intervention in primary care. Families, Systems, & Health, 34(3), 250-259. doi:10.1037/fsh0000202.
[7] Bilsker, D., Goldner, E. M., & Anderson, E. (2012). Supported self-management: a simple, effective way to improve depression care. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(4), 203-209.
[8] Red Deer Primary Care Network. (2016). Happiness Basics Program. Annual Report Sections 1 & 2: Version 11.0. 32-37.
[9] Seligman, M. E. (2013). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: Atria Paperback.
[10] Quality Metric. (2011). Short form health surveys (Online products and services catalogue). Retrieved from https://www.qualitymetric.com/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Public/QM_Catalog_2011.pdf
[11] Fikretoglu, D., & Liu, A. (2015). Perceived barriers to mental health treatment among individuals with a past-year disorder onset: Findings from a Canadian Population Health Survey. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(5), 739-746. doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0975-0
[12] Slaunwhite, A. K. (2015). The role of gender and income in predicting barriers to mental health care in Canada. Community mental health journal, 51(5), 621-627.
[13] Slade, T., Johnston, A., Teesson, M., Whiteford, H., Burgess, P., Pirkis, J., S. (2009). The mental health of Australians 2: Report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Department of aging, Canberra.
[14] Friedman, E. M., Ruini, C., Foy, R., Jaros, L., Sampson, H., & Ryff, C. D. (2017). Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults. Aging & mental health, 21(2), 199-205.
[15] Alberta Medical Association Primary Care Alliance Board. (2013). PCN evolution vision and framework: Report to the Minister of Health. Retrieved from http://pcnevolution.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/PCNe%20Overview/PCN%20Evolution%20Vision%20and%20Framework.lrg.pdf
[16] Beaulac, J., & Bailly, M. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction: Pilot study of a treatment group for patients with chronic pain in a primary care setting. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 16(4), 424-428. doi:10.1017/S1463423614000346
[17] Howarth, A., Perkins-Porras, L., Copland, C., & Ussher, M. (2016). Views on a brief mindfulness intervention among patients with long-term illness. BMC Psychology, 4 doi:10.1186/s40359-016-0163-y
[18] Prasad, K., Wahner-Roedler, D. L., Cha, S. S., & Sood, A. (2011). Effect of a single-session meditation training to reduce stress and improve quality of life among health care professionals: a "dose-ranging" feasibility study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 17(3), 46-49.
[19] Ariaeinejad, R., & Archer, N. (2014). Importance of mobile technology in successful adoption and sustainability of a chronic disease support system, 8, 870-875.
[1] World Health Organization. (2017). Depression: Let’s talk. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2017/en
[2] McDaniel, S. H., & deGruy, F. I. (2014). An introduction to primary care and psychology. American Psychologist, 69(4), 325-331. doi:10.1037/a0036222.
[3] Statistics Canada. (2017). Canadian Community Health Survey, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170322/dq170322a-eng.htm
[4] Bilsker, D., Goldner, E. M., & Jones, W. (2007). Health service patterns indicate potential benefit of supported self-management for depression in primary care. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 52(2), 86-95.
[5] Loh, A., Leonhart, R., Wills, C. E., Simon, D., & Härter, M. (2007). The impact of patient participation on adherence and clinical outcome in primary care of depression. Patient Education and Counseling, 6569-78. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2006.05.007
[6] Craner, J. R., Sawchuk, C. N., & Smyth, K. T. (2016). Outcomes of a 6-week cognitive–behavioral and mindfulness group intervention in primary care. Families, Systems, & Health, 34(3), 250-259. doi:10.1037/fsh0000202.
[7] Bilsker, D., Goldner, E. M., & Anderson, E. (2012). Supported self-management: a simple, effective way to improve depression care. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 57(4), 203-209.
[8] Red Deer Primary Care Network. (2016). Happiness Basics Program. Annual Report Sections 1 & 2: Version 11.0. 32-37.
[9] Seligman, M. E. (2013). Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. New York, NY: Atria Paperback.
[10] Quality Metric. (2011). Short form health surveys (Online products and services catalogue). Retrieved from https://www.qualitymetric.com/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Public/QM_Catalog_2011.pdf
[11] Fikretoglu, D., & Liu, A. (2015). Perceived barriers to mental health treatment among individuals with a past-year disorder onset: Findings from a Canadian Population Health Survey. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 50(5), 739-746. doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0975-0
[12] Slaunwhite, A. K. (2015). The role of gender and income in predicting barriers to mental health care in Canada. Community mental health journal, 51(5), 621-627.
[13] Slade, T., Johnston, A., Teesson, M., Whiteford, H., Burgess, P., Pirkis, J., S. (2009). The mental health of Australians 2: Report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Department of aging, Canberra.
[14] Friedman, E. M., Ruini, C., Foy, R., Jaros, L., Sampson, H., & Ryff, C. D. (2017). Lighten UP! A community-based group intervention to promote psychological well-being in older adults. Aging & mental health, 21(2), 199-205.
[15] Alberta Medical Association Primary Care Alliance Board. (2013). PCN evolution vision and framework: Report to the Minister of Health. Retrieved from http://pcnevolution.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/PCNe%20Overview/PCN%20Evolution%20Vision%20and%20Framework.lrg.pdf
[16] Beaulac, J., & Bailly, M. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction: Pilot study of a treatment group for patients with chronic pain in a primary care setting. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 16(4), 424-428. doi:10.1017/S1463423614000346
[17] Howarth, A., Perkins-Porras, L., Copland, C., & Ussher, M. (2016). Views on a brief mindfulness intervention among patients with long-term illness. BMC Psychology, 4 doi:10.1186/s40359-016-0163-y
[18] Prasad, K., Wahner-Roedler, D. L., Cha, S. S., & Sood, A. (2011). Effect of a single-session meditation training to reduce stress and improve quality of life among health care professionals: a "dose-ranging" feasibility study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 17(3), 46-49.
[19] Ariaeinejad, R., & Archer, N. (2014). Importance of mobile technology in successful adoption and sustainability of a chronic disease support system, 8, 870-875.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:79140", author = "Danielle Klassen and Reiko Yeap and Margo Schmitt-Boshnick and Scott Oddie", title = "Perspectives and Outcomes of a Long and Shorter Community Mental Health Program", abstract = "The development of the 7-week Alberta Happiness Basics program was initiated in 2010 in response to the need for community mental health programming. This provincial wide program aims to increase overall happiness and reduce negative thoughts and feelings through a positive psychology intervention. While the 7-week program has proven effective, a shortened 4-week program has additionally been developed to address client needs. In this study, participants were interviewed to determine if the 4- and 7-week programs had similar success of producing lasting behavior change at 3, 6, and 9 months post-program. A health quality of life (HQOL) measure was also used to compare the two programs and examine patient outcomes. Quantitative and qualitative analysis showed significant improvements in HQOL and sustainable behavior change for both programs. Findings indicate that the shorter, patient-centered program was effective in increasing happiness and reducing negative thoughts and feelings.", keywords = "Primary care, mental health, depression, short duration. ", volume = "13", number = "9", pages = "1245-6", }
