Mental disorder prevention and mental health promotion require a broad-based professional workforce as well as an informed, active citizenry.

Opportunities for expanding prevention and promotion will be heavily dependent on a competent workforce which can support program implementation and policy development, and can encourage building bridges with public health and social service agencies and organizations in other sectors (e.g. schools, justice).  To promote the active participation of different stakeholders it is crucial that the education of public health professionals imparts relevant knowledge, attitudes and skills so that they can act as enablers and advocates for mental health in all sectors, and identify and work with a broad set of partners. Interdisciplinary training can help the workforce to recognize the importance and benefit of different policies and actions for mental health, and assist the development of research skills to conduct evaluations that in turn can improve the quality and effectiveness of practice. The involvement of different stakeholders and sectors (e.g. families, teachers, community leaders, the media) in the implementation of prevention and promotion in mental health will ensure that it reaches more of the population.  This is especially important in low- and middle- income countries where preventive and promotion services by health-care professionals are not in place. 

This special plenary, related presentations and the training track at the conference aim to offer insight into available training and initiatives for building capacity across the world to support the development of a competent workforce.  Training should reach not only mental health specialists but should support the mainstreaming of action in health promotion, public health policy and the community.