Building capacity for effective implementation of mental health promotion in Advances in Mental Health

In Ireland, a country of just over 4 million people, there is now a strong infrastructure for health promotion with over 300 dedicated health promotion specialists working at the national and regional levels implementing health promotion policy and practice, a smaller number of whom have a remit for mental health promotion (McKenna, Barry & Friel, 2005). The national mental health policy A Vision for Change (Department of Health and Children, 2006) incorporates mental health promotion as part of a comprehensive mental health policy: 'a comprehensive model of mental health service provision for Ireland' includes a framework for building and fostering positive mental health across the entire community.'