Best practice guidelines for mental health promotion programs: Children & Youth
Address and modify risk and protective factors, including determinants of health, that indicate possible mental health concerns,
substance use or violence in children, youth, and/or parents or caregivers by:
- identifying the population(s) of concern
- identifying relevant protective factors, risk factors and determinants of health
- assessing which factors and health determinants can be modified
- developing a plan to enhance the protective factors, reduce the risk factors and influence the determinants of heath relevant
to the population(s) of concern.
Examples of protective factors include:
- social skills
- family harmony
- positive school climate
- positive life events in childhood
- attachment to and networks within the community.
Examples of risk factors include:
- insecure attachment in an infant or child
- family violence and conflict
- poor attachment to school
- negative life events in childhood
- neighbourhood violence and crime.
Examples of determinants of health include:
- adequate housing
- employment and working conditions
- income and income distribution
- social supports
- freedom from discrimination and violence
- gender, age, and ethnoracial/ethnocultural background
- physical environment.
Programs that incorporate Guideline 1 are:
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Review examples of protective factors and risk factors.
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