Mental health first aid for the UK Armed Forces

Education programmes in mental health literacy can address stigma and misunderstanding of mental health. This study investigated self-rated differences in knowledge, attitudes and confidence around mental health issues following participation in a bespoke Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course for the Armed Forces. The mixed methods approach comprised quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. A survey, administered immediately post training (n=602) and again at 10- months post attendance (n=120), asked participants to rate their knowledge, attitudes and confidence around mental health issues pre and post training. Quantitative findings revealed a significant increase in knowledge, positive attitudes and confidence from the post training survey which was sustained at 10-months follow-up. Semi-structured telephone interviews (n=13) were conducted at follow-up, 6- months post attendance. Qualitative findings revealed that participation facilitated an ‘ambassador’ type role for participants. This study is the first to have investigated the effect of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in an Armed Forces community. Findings show participants perceived the training to increase knowledge regarding mental health and to enhance confidence and aptitude for identifying and supporting people with mental health problems. Results suggest that such an intervention can provide support for personnel, veterans and their families, regarding mental health in Armed Forces communities

Methods of connecting primary care patients with community-based physical activity opportunities:A realist scoping review

Funding: NHS Fife Endowment Fund (Grant Number(s): FIF142).Deemed a global public health problem by the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is estimated to be responsible for one in six deaths in the United Kingdom (UK) and to cost the nation's economy £7.4 billion per year. A response to the problem receiving increasing attention is connecting primary care patients with community-based physical activity opportunities. We aimed to explore what is known about the effectiveness of different methods of connecting primary care patients with community-based physical activity opportunities in the United Kingdom by answering three research questions: 1) What methods of connection from primary care to community-based physical activity opportunities have been evaluated?; 2) What processes of physical activity promotion incorporating such methods of connection are (or are not) effective or acceptable, for whom, to what extent and under what circumstances; 3) How and why are (or are not) those processes effective or acceptable? We conducted a realist scoping review in which we searched Cochrane, Medline, PsycNET, Google Advanced Search, National Health Service (NHS) Evidence and NHS Health Scotland from inception until August 2020. We identified that five methods of connection from primary care to community-based physical activity opportunities had been evaluated. These were embedded in 15 processes of physical activity promotion, involving patient identification and behaviour change strategy delivery, as well as connection. In the contexts in which they were implemented, four of those processes had strong positive findings, three had moderately positive findings and eight had negative findings. The underlying theories of change were highly supported for three processes, supported to an extent for four and refuted for eight processes. Comparisons of the processes and their theories of change revealed several indications helpful for future development of effective processes. Our review also highlighted the limited evidence base in the area and the resulting need for well-designed theory-based evaluations.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

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of key indicators within a cohort of 83 GP practices and an eligible population of 210 513. Data were assessed to compare differences between practices and to compare county data with national indicators. Results The annual programme uptake was 49.8% and a total of 1031 patients were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Variations in the detection of modifiable risk factors in relation to the NHS Ready Reckoner were identified: diabetes (20.04%), CKD (20.9%), hypertension (219.9%); obesity (27.1%); low physical activity (257.7%) and smoking (214.3%). Conclusions Disparities in uptake and implementation of the care pathway demonstrate inconsistencies in the application of processes and knowledge. There appears to be an overestimation of CVD risk by the Ready Reckoner tool likely to be attributable to a failure to adjust for existing local early identification efforts in primary care and prevention

Skills and attributes needed in the workplace: A European survey of sport employers' and sport graduates' perceptions

This study presents data from the Erasmus Life Long Learning Program “Employability of Graduates of Sport” (EGS). EGS aims at establishing a Europe wide Employers/Sport related Higher Education Institutions network, to promote good practice in employability programs. As part of the Needs Analysis action of the project, a survey of employers and sport graduates was performed. Employers (n = 347) and Sport Graduates (n = 2047) from 6 countries (UK, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and Czech Republic) rated: a. the importance and b. the perceived possession of 20 specific attributes and skills related to employability. This study presents data from the Greek sub‐samples as well as a comparison between the results from Greece and those from all countries. Regarding Greece, there were large differences between Graduates and Employers perception of the possession of skills and attributes, with Employers denoting that Graduates possess the skills to a much lower extent that the Graduates perceived. Also, Greek Employers perceived that Graduates possessed the skills and characteristics to a lower extent than Employers from the other countries

Physical activity interventions in the workplace: implementation, evaluation and challenges

Due to a variety of factors, it is notoriously difficult to implement effective physical activity interventions in the workplace.The aim of the proposed symposium is to highlight relevant issues and challenges associated with implementing rather novel workplace physical activity intervention designed to increase physical activity participation and psychological well-being among sedentary employees.The studies presented will have used a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods to a) highlight issues of implementation and feasibility, b) evaluate the effectiveness of a specific intervention, c) examine potential mechanisms underlying physical activity adoption and adherence and d) discuss pertinent challenges in changing physical activity behaviour in the workplace. The first paper discusses components of, and challenges associated with, the design and implementation of a 16-week lunchtime walking interventions with sedentary employees. The second presentation provides a summary of the evaluation of the above mentioned intervention using quantitative methods.The third presentation uses a qualitative approach to tap into potential mechanisms underpinning physical activity behaviour change in sedentary employees. Using examples from international research, the final presentation considers how aspects of work culture can act as both a promoter and inhibitor of physical activity engagement in the workplace.This series of studies show that the workplace is a viable, but also very challenging, setting for promoting physical activity among a large segment of the adult working population