PolicyWise for Children & Families is continuing to celebrate 20 years of impacting meaningful change. As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations, we are sharing stories about our successful projects, both past and present.
Evaluating a Community-Based Approach to Rural Mental Health
There is an ongoing need for community-developed and led programs that take a broad approach to well-being to improve rural Albertans’ mental health.
For the past three years, the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Alberta Division has been administering the Rural Mental Health project to improve rural community mental health and well-being.
The project combines capacity building, network support, and community grants that enable local action within communities. The project’s goals and activities are based on recommendations made by rural Albertans. This ensures the project is developed locally and meets their specific needs while providing the flexibility to create and implement the right solutions for them.
In 2018, the Association contracted us to lead a multi-year evaluation of the Rural Mental Health project. During that fiscal year, we completed phase one of the evaluation, which showed early signs of community capacity building and sustainability. We also identified areas to further explore in the next phases of the evaluation and provided recommendations for the project and the Rural Mental Health Network.
As we continue to evaluate the additional phases of the Rural Mental Health project, our approach and activities are guided by evidence and collaborations with strategic and local partners. We hope our work continues adding to the existing momentum around this project and rural mental health in Alberta.
This project was sponsored by the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Alberta Division.
To learn more about how PolicyWise is making an impact and to read similar stories, check out our 2022-2023 Annual Report.
