Making Every Contact Count is an approach to lifestyle behaviour change that utilises the millions of day to day interactions that organisations and people have with other people to support them in making positive changes to their physical and mental health & wellbeing (Public Health England)
The #Physiotalk on Monday 5th February (at our usual time of 8pm GMT) will look at how physiotherapists are implementing ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC for short!). However rather than look at how we are making our contacts count for physical health we are going to challenge you to think about how to make your contacts count for mental health and well being.
Why now?
This week heralds #timetotalk day on Thu 1st February – you can read about how to get involved here but one of the main messages is that the more we talk about mental health issues the better life is for all of us. This goes for ourselves, work colleagues and of course our clients and patients too.
A survey of physiotherapists found that 95% considered public health to be a core part of their role and also found that the conversations initiated were around a wide variety of public health priorities. But how many of them however were around mental health and well being?
Public Health England have identified barriers to MECC for mental health and well being – a few are below. How many of these ring true for you?
- I may make things worse…
- It would take up too much time
- It’s not my role to discuss such things
- Lack of skills and confidence in starting conversations about feelings
So, the questions we are going to ask on Monday include:
Do you ask about mental health and wellbeing during a physiotherapy intervention?
Do you feel it is part of your role as a physiotherapist?
How do you approach this as part of a MECC approach?
Do you feel you have adequate skills and training in using this approach?
Do you have adequate knowledge to signpost to appropriate services?
Transcript
Missed the chat? Catch up here with the transcript
Resources:
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Resources
