United States – NSO

The Mental Health Innovation was developed by Dr. Linda Beeber of the University of North Carolina in collaboration with the Prevention Research Center at the University of Colorado based on research conducted with NFP nurses in the United States, exploring what would be most helpful to them in supporting clients with depression and anxiety. There are five eLearning modules:

• MH1: Mental Health – Introduction
• MH2: Learning About Depression and Anxiety, Part 1
• MH3: Learning About Depression and Anxiety, Part 2
• MH4: Integrating Mental Health Nursing Care into NFP Practice
• MH5: Practicing Mental Health Nursing
• Mental Health Facilitators
• Mental Health Modules on Moodle

The eLearning is very interactive and after reviewing the first module (Mental Health Introduction), the modules can be accessed in any order and in stages, according to the nurse’s schedule and learning needs. Each module takes up to an hour to complete, depending on how much content is presented, how the nurse works through the modules, and how much time she spends reviewing the accompanying resource materials. There are a branching case studies within the content, where the case scenario unfolds and nurses interact with decisions about approaches to be taken. The case scenarios have been piloted by NFP sites in the United States to ensure they represent realistic situations. The modules include use of three screening tools: The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Countries may need to adjust the content if they are using other screening tools in their context. A resource package is provided to accompany each eLearning module. The resource documents are used throughout the eLearning modules. There are six new Visit-to-Visit Guideline facilitators (with accompanying nurse instructions) in a packet “How can I stay mentally healthy?” posted in the International Visit-to-Visit Guidelines.