Challenges of a Program for Public Mental Health Education with an Emphasis on Self-Care in Primary Health Care: A Qualitative Study

Zahra Validabady; Nadereh Memaryan; Morteza Naserbakht; Atefeh  Zandifar; Mozhgan Lotfi

doi:10.18502/jchr.v11i4.11645

Zahra Validabady Department of Mental Health, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nadereh Memaryan Department of Mental Health, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Morteza Naserbakht Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Atefeh Zandifar Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Mozhgan Lotfi Department of Mental Health, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jchr.v11i4.11645

Keywords: Mental Health Education; Mental Health Literacy; Primary Health Care(PHC); Health Centers

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health education aims to increase mental health literacy plays a crucial role in community members mental health, but its implementation in primary health care faces obstacles and problems. Therefore, this study was conducted to explain the challenges of the public mental health education program with an emphasis on self-care in Iran primary health care.

Methods: The present study was a qualitative study with a content analysis approach. Research sample consisted of 20 stakeholders through purposive sampling with maximum diversity. This study was conducted in Tehran and Alborz, Iran. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews and analyzed by Graneheim and Lundman approach.

Results: By analyzing the data, the challenges were categorized into six main themes and 15 categories. The six main themes included educational challenges, Inefficiency of the Educational Method, Unsuitable intersect oral collaboration, infrastructural challenges, inadequate resources and barriers to participation in education.

Conclusions: Considering the key role of mental health education in promoting mental health literacy and prioritizing prevention in the field of mental health in primary health care, especially achieving universal health coverage; Given multidimensionality challenges and obstacles, reform and adoption of appropriate implementation methods using mental health experts seem necessary. Future research and policies could explore ways to optimize program implementation in primary health care.