Improving responses to depression and related disorders: evaluation of a innovative, general, mental health care workers training program

These elements were assessed using pen and paper tests prior, immediately following, 6 months after and then 12 months after the training. Trainees' confidence, mental health literacy and social distance were measured using scales that have been used in evaluations of Mental Health First Aid Training. Community mental health ideology was measured using a sub-scale of the Community Attitudes to the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale. The trainees' knowledge and skills were accessed using instrumentation specifically designed for this evaluation.Following training, participants had more confidence in their ability to work with those who have mental health issues and less desire for social distance from them. Participants' knowledge and skills in relation to the treatment of mental disorders increased. These changes were observed immediately after training. The limited existing evidence suggests these changes were sustained six and twelve months later.MAP training can be used to develop the capacity and capabilities of mental health workers.Mental health services are often less than ideal. They are limited by an "efficacy-effectiveness gap (EEG) [1]." That is, the real-world outcomes of intervention are much worse than can be achieved under optimal conditions. Only a minority of those with mental illness receive treatment [2]. Even in Australia, which is reputed to have good mental health services, just over a third (35%) of those with a mental disorder in previous twelve months accessed mental health services [3]. The result of both poor treatment and under treatment of mental illness is that suffering that we know how to alleviate continues.Effective training of mental health staff is necessary if improvements in mental health treatment are to occur and if efficacious interventions are to become more generally available. Recognizing this are a series of national and international mental health plans [4-7], all suggesting that greater training of the mental health work force s