The promotion of mental health is being increasingly recognised as central to reducing health inequalities and promoting social inclusion. Darzi acknowledges the need for the development and implementation of evidence based interventions that involve working in partnership with many agencies to promote health. Every PCT should commission wellbeing and prevention services in partnership with local authorities that focus on obesity, alcohol harm, sexual health, workplace health and mental health. It is clear that mental health and wellbeing underpins all of the focus areas and should not be seen as separate from them. Recent work by Lynne Friedli and Jo Nurse recognises the central importance of mental wellbeing in developing public health and social policy.

This page provides links to presentations; documents and research that will help keep you abreast of developments in this exciting and fast moving area of work. 

• Mental Health Improvement: Evidence and Practice - This is the fifth in a series of Evaluation Guides2, which aim to encourage, support and improve standards in the evaluation of mental health improvement initiatives. This guide is based upon a Review of Scales of Positive Mental Health Validated for Use with Adults in the UK: Technical Report. Parkinson, J (ed) (in press).
• Resilient relationships in the North West: What can the Public Sector contribute? - Lynne Friedli with Margaret Carlin (November 2009)
• Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing (July 2006 - October 2008) - The aim of the Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing has been to advise the Government on how to achieve the best possible mental development and mental wellbeing for everyone in the UK in the future.
  
• Mental Health, Resilience and Inequalities - Dr Lynne Friedli (March 2009)
• Doing What Works: Individual Placement and Support into Employment - Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (February 2009)
• Outcomes Framework for Mental Health Services - National Social Inclusion Programme (February 2009)
• Social Prescribing for Mental Health and Wellbeing - a guide to commissioning and delivery (January 2009)
• Presentation delivered to students on the Masters in Public Health at Birmingham City University by Kate O'Hara (December 2008)
• Presentation by Dr Jo Nurse for Consultation on New Horizons in Mental Health (December 2008)
• Five Ways to Wellbeing - Final Report - New Economics Foundation (October 2008)
• Local Wellbeing Can We Measure It? - Nicola Steur & Nic Marks (September 2009)
• A New Vison for Mental Health - a discussion paper from the Future Vision Coalition (June 2008)
• Connect and Include: An Exploratory Study of Community Development and Mental Health - Patience Seebohm & Alison Gilchrist, National Social Inclusion Programme (June 2008)
• Mental Health Promotion: Building an Economic Case This is the third policy document in a series commissioned by NIAMH. It uses economic analysis to develop the case for greater investment in mental health promotion (November 2007)
• Social Marketing and Mental Health Briefing - Dr Lynne Friedli (October 2007)
• CSIP West Midlands' Mental Health Awareness Training Mapping Report (March 2007).
• Public Health Interventions to Promote Positive Mental Health and Prevent Mental Health Disorders Among Adults National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (January 2007)