Physical activity to address mental health in a remote Australian community: community readiness assessment
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Article publication date: 6 May 2024
Issue publication date: 15 July 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The mental and physical health of those residing in Australian rural and remote communities is poorer compared to major cities. Physical health comorbidities contribute to almost 80% of premature mortality for people living with mental illness. Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) is a well-established intervention to improve physical and mental health. To address the physical and mental health of rural and remote communities through LTPA, the community’s level of readiness should be first determined. This study aims to use the community readiness model (CRM) to explore community readiness in a remote Australian community to address mental health through LTPA.
Design/methodology/approach
Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted using the CRM on LTPA to address mental health. Quantitative outcomes scored the community’s stage of readiness for LTPA programmes to address mental health using the CRM categories of one (no awareness) to nine (high level of community ownership). Qualitative outcomes were thematically analysed, guided by Braun and Clark.
Findings
The community scored six (initiation) for community efforts and knowledge of LTPA programmes and seven (stabilisation) for leadership. The community’s attitude towards LTPA and resources for programmes scored four (pre-planning), and knowledge of LTPA scored three (vague awareness).
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first Australian study to use CRM to examine community readiness to use LTPA to improve mental health in a remote community. The CRM was shown to be a useful tool to identify factors for intervention design that might optimise community empowerment in using LTPA to improve mental health at the community level.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the community champion and interviewees who gave their valued time to contribute to the study.
Citation
Russell, K., Barnett, F., Varela, S., Rosenbaum, S. and Stanton, R. (2024), "Physical activity to address mental health in a remote Australian community: community readiness assessment", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 125-138. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-07-2023-0066
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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