The Key Role of Psychosocial Competencies in Evidence-Based Youth Mental Health Promotion: Academic Support in Consolidating a National Strategy in France

Béatrice Lamboy, François Beck, Damien Tessier, Marie-Odile Williamson, Nadine Fréry, Roxane Turgon, Jean-Michel Tassie, Julie Barrois, Zinna Bessa and Rebecca Shankland ()
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Béatrice Lamboy: Santé Publique France, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France
François Beck: Santé Publique France, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France
Damien Tessier: Laboratoire SENS, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
Marie-Odile Williamson: Instance Regionale d’Education et de Promotion de la Santé, Pays de la Loire, 44000 Nantes, France
Nadine Fréry: Santé Publique France, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France
Roxane Turgon: Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Psychologie (LIP/PC2S), Université Grenoble Alpes-Université Savoie-Mont-Blanc, 38000 Grenoble, France
Jean-Michel Tassie: Direction Générale de la Santé, Ministère de la Santé et de la Prévention, 75000 Paris, France
Julie Barrois: Direction Générale de la Santé, Ministère de la Santé et de la Prévention, 75000 Paris, France
Zinna Bessa: Direction Générale de la Santé, Ministère de la Santé et de la Prévention, 75000 Paris, France
Rebecca Shankland: Laboratoire DIPHE, Université Lumière Lyon 2, 69000 Lyon, France

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: Psychosocial competencies, also known as psychosocial skills or life skills, are essential for the prevention and promotion of mental health. Since the beginning of this century, psychosocial competencies have been defined as the ability to develop positive mental health. Most individual or social mental health protection programs are related to psychosocial competencies. A majority of evidence-based programs that develop mental health explicitly aim at developing psychosocial competencies, either exclusively or with complementary approaches. Many of these programs have demonstrated their effectiveness, with lasting effects on reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, violent and risky behaviors, and improved well-being and academic success. Based on international meta-analyses and on 20 years of French national and local experiences, a national strategy to develop psychosocial competencies was launched in France in 2021 for all children from 3 to 25 years old. Two reports on evidence-based psychosocial competence development were published in 2022 by the national agency for public health—Santé publique France (Public Health France)—to support this deployment strategy and develop a common evidence-based culture in health and education. This article presents the French national strategy as an example of a means of increasing evidence-based mental health promotion while discussing the importance of cultural adaptation of such programs.

Keywords: psychosocial competencies; mental health promotion; prevention of mental disorders; well-being; evidence-based policies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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