Supporting Mental Health in a Public Library Context: A Mixed Methods Brief Evaluation
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
21 November 2022
Abstract
An ongoing consideration of community mental health services is how to optimize outreach to best support a wellness approach. Public libraries provide a potential site for mental health services due to use by a diverse range of patrons. The purpose of this study was to explore a mental health wellness hub situated in a core urban library. Following a mixed methods approach, the study explores: (1) the desirability of this form of co-location; (2) the impact on library staff; and (3) how this hub integrated, or not, with the broader mental health system. Ultimately, findings demonstrated a significantly positive experience by patrons, mental health hub staff, and library staff.
Résumé
L’une des principales préoccupations des services communautaires de santé mentale est l’optimisation de la sensibilisation pour soutenir plus efficacement une démarche de mieux-être. Les bibliothèques municipales constituent des sites potentiels pour les services de santé mentale en raison de leur fréquentation par un large éventail d’usagers. Cette étude visait l’exploration d’un centre de mieux-être en santé mentale situé dans une bibliothèque centrale urbaine. Suivant une approche à méthodes mixtes, l’étude explore : 1) le caractère souhaitable de cette forme de centre co-implanté ; 2) l’incidence sur le personnel de la bibliothèque ; et 3) la façon dont ce centre s’intègre, ou non, au système général de santé mentale. En conclusion, l’étude montre que les usagers, le personnel du centre de santé mentale et celui de la bibliothèque ont vécu une expérience très positive.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 41 • Number 2 • April 2022
Pages: 25 - 45
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Version of record online: 21 November 2022
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Abe Oudshoorn, Amy Van Berkum, Jacquie Burkell, Helene Berman, Jessica Carswell, and Colleen Van Loon. 2022. Supporting Mental Health in a Public Library Context: A Mixed Methods Brief Evaluation. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
41(2): 25-45. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2022-013
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