Evaluation of a Unique Mental Health Program: A Mixed-Methods Approach: Using Focus Groups and Surveys to Evaluate a Mental Health Program

We conducted a program evaluation for the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) mental health promotion program, with specific aims 1) to determine whether the programming was effective, 2) to recommend areas of program improvement, and 3) to describe the mental health attitudes, knowledge and practices of immigrant women attending CMHA’s mental health program in Toronto, Canada. Surprisingly, to date in Canada, no published study has evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based mental health program. Furthermore, we aim to understand this immigrant population’s personal attitudes, knowledge and health-seeking behavior towards mental health problems. Our goal is to disseminate this program evaluation of a mental health program.