ABSTRACT
This paper describes the development of an evaluation framework to document the process, impact and outcomes of a community-based
mental health promotion project. This initiative, the Rural Mental Health Project, is concerned with the promotion of positive mental health in
rural communities in the Republic and Northern Ireland. As a community-based initiative, this project involves multi-component
interventions that are implemented with diverse target groups across a range of community settings. Assessing the process of programme
implementation is critical in order to capture and document the realities of programme planning and implementation. The evaluation
approach adopted in this project is based on a logic model research paradigm (Scheirer et al, 1995). This model gives equal emphasis to
process and outcome evaluation and seeks to relate the realities of programme implementation to intended programme outcomes. Project
activity is tracked prospectively in order to examine the detail of actual programme delivery and its influence on expected project outcomes.
This paper outlines the model as applied in this project and explores the methodological and practical challenges in evaluating complex
community interventions.
Margaret Barry
Head of department and director
Centre for Health Promotion Studies
Department of Health Promotion
National University of Ireland
Evaluation
journal of mental health promotion
•
volume 2
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issue 4
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december 2003
© Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Ltd
26
Designing an evaluation framework for
community mental health promotion
The Rural Mental Health Project is an action research
project concerned with promoting positive mental
health and well-being in rural communities. This
project, which commenced in 1999, is funded under
the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programme (Peace
2) and part-financed by the UK and Irish
governments. This initiative brings together two rural
communities, in County Donegal and County
Londonderry/Derry, and seeks to develop a
community model of mental health promotion using
cross-border and cross-sectoral strategies. The project
is developed in collaboration with the local
communities, health authorities, trusts, education
services and farming and rural agencies
and groups.
The aims of the project are:
•
to develop mental health promotion strategies
targeting depression and suicide that will empower
communities in addressing shared mental health
needs on a cross-community basis
•
to implement and systematically evaluate a model
of mental health promotion practice based on
community participation principles
•
to establish cross-border co-operation with a view
to sharing information, experiences and expertise
in promoting health and social well-being in rural
settings.
The Rural Mental Health Project developed in response
to the increasing rates of suicide and depression in both
Northern Ireland (Foster et al, 1997) and the Republic
of Ireland (Department of Health, 1998) and the
growing concern about these problems expressed by
members of the farming community (Hope et al,
1999). Suicide is now the leading cause of death among
young men in Ireland. As found in other countries,
farmers rank among the occupational groups with high
rates of suicide in Ireland (NicDaeid, 1997). Rural
communities encounter particular stresses, including
social isolation, unemployment, lack of public facilities
and the successive waves of farming crises in recent
years. The negative impact on the border regions of the
conflict in Northern Ireland is also acknowledged as
contributing to persisting levels of health and social
problems (DHSS, 1999). However, with the advent of
the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement,