Promoting Community Mental Health

    Promoting Community Mental Health

    Paula Worby, Todd Jailer  |  2025
    Hesperian Health Guides

    $17.95

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    Promoting Community Mental Health is a new concise guide offering innovative strategies and practical tools that people from all walks of life can implement in their efforts to improve the emotional and physical health of their communities.

    “Who is a mental health promoter? You are.”

    — Promoting Community Mental Health


    Promoting Community Mental Health emphasizes strategies and activities to change the inequalities, isolation, and other community conditions that make good mental health so difficult to achieve in the United States.  

    Topics covered include stress, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, depression, violence including gun violence and gender-based violence, anger, people in crisis, alcohol and drug addiction, and mental health at different stages of life. Importantly, this book also provides guidance on how to identify and manage situations that require professional support, and how to ensure those promoting mental health can care for their own well-being. 

    Developed with input from 26 community-led groups across the U.S., this 200-page resource helps community organizers, health workers, faith groups, and individuals integrate mental health promotion into their work and lives. 

    A Spanish language version is forthcoming. 

    Will you be using Promoting Community Mental Health or other Hesperian materials in your work? Email [email protected] and let us know!

    View Sample Pages

    Table of Contents (PDF)
    Chapter 1: Building Community Builds Mental Health (PDF)

    Praise for Promoting Community Mental Health

    “The section on preparing for crises is so important—it's awful to be in that situation where you aren't prepared and you can only just try to do your best.”
    —Maritza, harm reduction worker, San Francisco, CA 

    “This is very useful information, relevant to the needs of communities, and I really appreciate the examples and interventions.” 
    —Laura Rodriguez, Puente de la Costa Sur, Pescadero, CA 

    “Many staff attend mental health first aid, harm reduction, and other trainings. However, this tool could be used universally by all staff working with community members to ensure they are equipped to respond appropriately to the needs of the community.” 
    —Anna Kaminski, Senior Program Manager, Native American Health Center, Oakland CA