Barriers and facilitators to implementing the Act-Belong-Commit - ABCs for Mental Wellbeing in Finland

Objective

This study examines the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of the Act-Belong-Commit - ABCs for Mental Wellbeing in four Finnish municipalities. The study aims to identify factors that support or hinder successful implementation and provide recommendations for scaling up mental health promotion initiatives.

Methods

The interventions included altogether 37 participants in various municipal settings, with intervention periods ranging from 10 weeks to five months. A qualitative study design was used, employing semi-structured interviews with intervention providers (n=5) and participants (n=11). Data were analysed using thematic analysis method. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was employed to identify key themes related to implementation challenges and enablers.

Results

Altogether, 27 implementation factors were identified covering each CFIR domain, consisting of 8 barriers and 19 facilitators. These highlight the critical implementation factors that influence the successful adoption of the ABCs for Mental Wellbeing intervention.

Conclusion

The ABCs for Mental Wellbeing is a promising approach for promoting mental health and wellbeing. Addressing recruitment strategies, securing sufficient resources, and embedding the actions into municipal frameworks are essential for sustainable and effective implementation. By adopting a structured yet flexible approach, municipalities can tailor the model to meet the needs of diverse populations, ultimately improving mental health and wellbeing.