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Experiences of a Mental Health First Aid Training Program in Sweden: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Svensson, Bengt LU ; Hansson, Lars LU and Stjernswärd, Sigrid LU orcid (2015) In Community Mental Health Journal 51(4). p.497-503
Abstract
Restricted mental health literacy and stigma are barriers to treatment of mental disorders. A Mental Health First Aid training program was tested for implementation in Sweden among employees in the public sector. The aim of the present qualitative study was to explore participants' experiences of the program in more depth, in conjunction with a randomized controlled study. Twenty four persons participated in a total of six focus groups 6-8 months after program participation. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The analysis resulted in five categories illustrating the participants' experiences of the course: increased awareness, knowledge and understanding; influence on attitude and approach; tool box and confidence; feedback on... (More)
Restricted mental health literacy and stigma are barriers to treatment of mental disorders. A Mental Health First Aid training program was tested for implementation in Sweden among employees in the public sector. The aim of the present qualitative study was to explore participants' experiences of the program in more depth, in conjunction with a randomized controlled study. Twenty four persons participated in a total of six focus groups 6-8 months after program participation. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The analysis resulted in five categories illustrating the participants' experiences of the course: increased awareness, knowledge and understanding; influence on attitude and approach; tool box and confidence; feedback on content and layout; and tangible examples of applied knowledge. The most central finding is the fruitfulness of the program's practical focus and use, the increased confidence and inclination to act following program participation, and the importance of experienced instructors. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Community Mental Health Journal
volume
51
issue
4
pages
497 - 503
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:25663123
  • wos:000354374900014
  • scopus:84939973827
  • pmid:25663123
ISSN
0010-3853
DOI
10.1007/s10597-015-9840-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
937faec2-33ae-4f7d-801e-0a8fd5f280c4 (old id 5145004)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25663123?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:12:46
date last changed
2022-04-04 03:31:02
@article{937faec2-33ae-4f7d-801e-0a8fd5f280c4,
  abstract     = {{Restricted mental health literacy and stigma are barriers to treatment of mental disorders. A Mental Health First Aid training program was tested for implementation in Sweden among employees in the public sector. The aim of the present qualitative study was to explore participants' experiences of the program in more depth, in conjunction with a randomized controlled study. Twenty four persons participated in a total of six focus groups 6-8 months after program participation. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The analysis resulted in five categories illustrating the participants' experiences of the course: increased awareness, knowledge and understanding; influence on attitude and approach; tool box and confidence; feedback on content and layout; and tangible examples of applied knowledge. The most central finding is the fruitfulness of the program's practical focus and use, the increased confidence and inclination to act following program participation, and the importance of experienced instructors.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, Bengt and Hansson, Lars and Stjernswärd, Sigrid}},
  issn         = {{0010-3853}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{497--503}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Community Mental Health Journal}},
  title        = {{Experiences of a Mental Health First Aid Training Program in Sweden: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9840-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10597-015-9840-1}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}