Mental health impact of neighbourhood renewal programmes

Abstract

There are strong links between the mental health promotion and neighbourhood renewal agendas. In this paper we describe the process we have undertaken to develop a framework for monitoring and evaluating progress achieved by a neighbourhood renewal programme in East Hull (Preston Road) against a set of indicators of positive community mental health. Through a series of face‐to‐face and paper consultations with representatives of the Preston Road regeneration programme, a range of measures were devised to support the indicators and to identify sources of data that would provide evidence of progress on each measure. The framework that has emerged (and which is still open to development) will enable us to observe trends in the indicators over time. This will inform an evaluation of the impact of the regeneration programme on the community's mental health and provide the basis for the production of a Preston Road ‘mental health status’ report.

Mental Health and Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment Frameworks—A Systematic Review

“…Krasner & Copeland [ 22 ] describe a community renewal scheme within the New Deal for Communities [ 37 ] scheme in an area of deprivation in Hull, UK. The assessment process developed by the initiative, had synergies with the MWIA framework, including stakeholder workshops, and a focus on participation, inclusion and community safety for indicator development.…”

“…It also recognised mental health impacting individual, community and structural levels. The approach took a positive view of mental health but stated that it was “difficult for many people to comprehend [positive mental health] as they perceive mental health to be a negative term, reflecting a problem” [ 22 ]. This may reflect the period during which the report was written, 2003 when positive approaches to mental health were still under development.…”

Neighbourhood well‐being in Lewisham and Lambeth: the development of a mental well‐being impact assessment and indicator toolkit

“…This is inspite of the fact that, in practice, communities involved in the HIA process often attach a high importance to 'well-being' and recognise the significance of psychosocial factors: eg. sense of control, optimism, self-esteem, as well as the broader health determinants (Krasner & Copeland, 2004).…”