Setting-based interventions to promote mental health at the university: a systematic review

A. Fernandez (), E. Howse (), M. Rubio-Valera (), K. Thorncraft (), J. Noone (), X. Luu (), B. Veness (), M. Leech (), G. Llewellyn () and L. Salvador-Carulla ()
Additional contact information
A. Fernandez: University of Sydney
E. Howse: Healthy Sydney University, The University of Sydney
M. Rubio-Valera: Sant Joan de Deu Foundation
K. Thorncraft: University of Sydney
J. Noone: University of Sydney
X. Luu: The University of Sydney
B. Veness: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
M. Leech: Healthy Sydney University, The University of Sydney
G. Llewellyn: Healthy Sydney University, The University of Sydney
L. Salvador-Carulla: University of Sydney

International Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 61, issue 7, No 8, 797-807

Abstract: Abstract Objectives Universities are dynamic environments. But university life presents challenges that may affect the mental health of its community. Higher education institutions provide opportunities to promote public health. Our objective is to summarise the current evidence on strategies to promote mental health at the university, following a setting-based model. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review following standard methods. Published literature that evaluated structural and organizations strategies to promote mental health at the university was selected. Results 19 papers were included. The majority of the studies were targeting the students, with only four aiming to promote employees’ mental health. The most promising strategies to promote mental wellbeing included changes in the way students are taught and assessed. On the other hand, social marketing strategies had not impact on mental health. There is inconclusive evidence related to the effectiveness of policies to promote mental health. Conclusions Universities should invest in creating supportive physical, social and academic environments that promote student and staff mental wellbeing. However, the current body of evidence is scarce and more research is needed to recommend what are the best strategies.

Keywords: Mental health promotion; Setting-based approach; University (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00038-016-0846-4 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:61:y:2016:i:7:d:10.1007_s00038-016-0846-4

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/00038

DOI: 10.1007/s00038-016-0846-4

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Thomas Kohlmann, Nino Künzli and Andrea Madarasova Geckova

More articles in International Journal of Public Health from Springer, Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().