BACKGROUND

Mental health conditions represent a significant global public health issue, affecting millions of people worldwide. To meet the increasing demands on mental health services in Switzerland, the development of a competence centre for mental health can provide the necessary structures and resources for a comprehensive and innovative approach to mental health care. This paper outlines the participatory process used in the development and implementation of a competence centre for mental health in Eastern Switzerland for the promotion of positive mental health.

METHODS

The process was conducted using a participatory design and a co-creation approach. This involved the collaborative engagement of all relevant mental health stakeholders, working together as equals throughout all stages of the process. A key stakeholder group was established with N = 10 individuals, including persons with lived experience, (mental) health care professionals, researchers, educators, and decision-makers at institutional and regional levels. Between March 2020 and June 2021, four conceptualisation meetings were conducted using participatory methods and tools to facilitate collaborative, reflexive, and innovative engagement.

RESULTS

The participatory process resulted in a framework for a competence centre for mental health, informed by the needs and experiences of key mental health stakeholders. Three main areas were identified in which the competence centre could effect change for the promotion of positive mental health and the improvement of mental health services in Eastern Switzerland: (1) Academic teaching of future health professionals; (2) further education for current health professionals; and (3) a research agenda that provides a scientific contribution to the improved mental health care of the population.

CONCLUSIONS

The co-creation process resulted in an inclusive, practice-oriented framework for a competence centre for mental health at the intersection of research, education, and practice. By continuing to adopt a participatory approach, the competence centre can provide evidence-based training for health professionals, foster innovative and needs-based models of care, advocate for policy change, and promote best practices for the promotion and recovery of mental health. The successful development and implementation of the competence centre using a co-creation process provides encouraging support for the use of participatory approaches in the field of mental health.