18 Dec 2009
Low-cost approaches to promote physical and mental health: theory, research, and practice
Edited by Luciano L'Abate. (2007)
This is a useful text for those involved in health promotion and related research and who want to clarify conceptual thinking about the place and effectiveness of physical and mental health promotion.
The book argues the need to make a clear distinction between health promotion and prevention. As the title suggests it points out the opportunities that promotion programmes provide due to their low cost, lack of bureaucracy and possibilities to significantly influence outcomes for large numbers of people. Such programmes are agued as an essential 'upstream' element to improve overall health and reduce ballooning care costs in the secondary and tertiary health domains.
Physical and mental health approaches to promotion are detailed, with chapters dedicated to descriptions of specific programmes and the analysis of their effectiveness. Having physical and mental health promotion included in the same book is very relevant with the increasing evidence reinforces the symbiosis between the two. Areas explored are diverse including nutrition vitamins and herbal medicines; exercise, mindfulness and expressive movement; creative and expressive writing; relationships and spirituality.
The examples are mainly from North American but there is sufficient diversity and creativity in the programmes described to capture the imagination for possibilities in New Zealand.
Hugh Norriss, Director of Policy & Development
