Main Page: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 13:02, 2 September 2024

Precaution

This website is not to be considered medical advice under any circumstances.

If you, or anyone you know, are experiencing suicidal ideations, please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention

Introduction

This toolkit exists to make freely available and accessible the theory, practical implementation guidelines, and most prominent research in the field of Social Network Health.

For anyone who wants to use a Social Network Health approach to improve the health of their community, this toolkit will provide the essential theory, which should be understood first, and basic implementation information to provide enough of the scope and precautionary information to evaluate training materials.

Use the major sections below to navigate, and please read through the context section below if you are ever in doubt of the context of this toolkit. We are easy to reach.

Major Sections

Sections

The Major Sections of this toolkit can be navigated via the hamburger menu:

Theory - The Key Findings in Social Network Health and their context.
Practical Implementation - The fundamentals of practical implementation of a social network health approach.
Research Library - TBD Primary resources, seminal research, educational video explainers, and links to external resources.

Context

Project Status

The current status of this Toolkit is: Alpha

That means we are testing this Toolkit and seeking peer review. This toolkit should currently be useful, informative, and not misleading. However, this site should not yet be relied upon alone to evaluate an approach, training system, or program.

What we have done to date:

We have filmed and interviewed the most prominent research team in the field, and dozens of school administrators, teachers, counselors, students and education professionals.
We have enumerated the key findings in theory, and added references and video support for each. NOTE: we have only added one researcher interview, and one research paper, to test the content and format of this site - so we have dozens more interviews and papers to add.
We have enumerated the basic precautions and scope of practical implementation

Project History

This project was conceived in 2021 to document successful implementations in Social Network Health. The Social Network Health project has been filming teachers, students, administrators, counselors, researchers and others since early 2022 - that is ongoing as of this writing. In the process, we have collected research and observed common language, practices, and wisdom that is best compiled and presented in this living, mixed media format. We will be launching the first useful release of this site in 2024.

To learn more about the team, mission, and values of the Social Network Health Project, see the about page on our main website.

Non-commercial Project

Note that this is a charitable, non-commercial project - you can't buy anything here or on our main site, and we won't recommend anything for purchase. However, we will review and profile materials and training professionals on our main site in interviews, blog posts, and videos.

Active Research Area

The Network Health Approach describes tools and methods that are under active study, development, and use.

This means that this toolkit will be updated as new research dictates, and, most importantly the version history will reflect changes accurately.

To ensure that you have the latest information, you can check the most recent update date on any page in this wiki, view and read the full version history, see when it was last peer-reviewed, sign up for updates to this toolkit, join our discussion group, and apply to become an editor.

We will update this with new research as it develops. We have a research page where new contexts in which these tools can be used will be described as the tools are applied, researched, and tested within them.

Schools First

Throughout this toolkit, we will typically assume the context of a school. We are focused on helping there because the need for preventative solutions and research is strong. However, this approach has been proven effective in other contexts such as in the United States Air Force, Police departments, and other contexts you can learn more about on the research page.

Schools are a priority because of their vulnerable, high-potential populations, but also because they have become community hubs and therefore the second and third places in the terminology of Oldenburg. Their increasing importance in modern society as community infrastructure warrants our full attention. Schools can even pull family (the first place) into community by organizing family oriented activities and relationship building.

For that reason, we will use language that is appropriate for schools - we will make research language accessible to schools specifically.

Universality of the Approach

We believe that a high-level Social Network Health approach that is universally useful for all communities can be defined, but such an approach must not dictate implementation details.

Certainly, any remotely universal approach cannot look like the implementation of what is commonly sold as a "program" by most professional development companies.

Approaches develop programs

An "approach" refers to a broad strategy or framework that offers evidence-based principles, logical reasoning, guidelines, and wisdom. It serves as a foundation for developing specific interventions and guiding overall practices. In contrast, a "program" is the practical application of an approach, akin to a detailed recipe that specifies how to implement those principles in real-world settings. While programs can effectively translate an approach into action, their repeated use may sometimes lead to a focus on the procedures rather than the underlying logic, wisdom, and evidence that inspired the approach in the first place.

Ecological validity is one finding of Social Network Health research that demands that a program is developed specifically and uniquely for a community - . This contention is supported by researched implementation across a breadth of communities.

Programs must yield to culture

Programs are developed from approaches and ideally should dissolve into strong cultural values and practices - long after the programs are forgotten, the approach and cultural practices can stay resident in a community.

A network health approach to preventative care attempts to make individual and community protective factors and social norms a part of everyday culture. Network health approaches that address these processes and can only maintain their universality if they are co-implemented by the community they are developed in.

Historical Context

The history of preventative mental health care is beyond the scope of this wiki, but it is worth arguing that the characteristics of Social Network Health approaches differ from how mental health has been approached in modern societies most of the world over for the last 100 years, but they are not that different from what existed and still does exist in most cultures in the more distant past. The fact that research has taken humanity full circle to rediscovered excellence is notable and in some cases relevant. Some discussion of this is relevant to understanding practical implementation roadblocks, so this history is expanded on in the implementation page.

Medical Model v. Strengths model

We are attempting to outline Social Network Health in the context of what we call a "strengths model". The "medical model" of care requires identification of a weakness to begin recommending treatment. In mental health care, some issues have no strong correlates that can be identified as weaknesses early on. Interestingly, there are correlates that can be identified as risk factors in communities that are much stronger indicators of future risk, and more readily identifiable, than individual risk factors.[citation needed] In some cases, strengths-based models that seek to identify strengths of individuals and communities have been shown to be more effective in reducing risk factors than a weakness-based medical model. Treating a community preventatively withy a strengths based-model can also be done without isolating individuals as weak links, separating them from connections. Instead, a strengths based preventative care program identifies strengths and integrates individuals into broader communities.

Notable Works In Progress (WIP)

Other Works In Progress Here

These pages are notable and we are actively seeking feedback on them, but they are less complete, mostly idea-stage, and shouldn't be used or quoted until we remove them from this section, or they are completed and removed from this WIP section.

SNH Maturity Model - Super experimental idea-stage page that begins the thought experiment to determine the maturity of a communities effort to improve Social Network Health.

Protective Factors - Straightforward page where we will collect summaries, research quotes, video shorts on various protective factors.

Stream Strategy Modeling Resources - We are curating and assessing models of integrated systems of health care that model resource allocation strategies and expected outcomes.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== Overview: ==
+{{Colored box|icon=Tiny_logo_x1.png|background-title-color=#36c|title=Precaution|title-color=#fff|background-content-color=#eaf3ff|content=This website is not to be considered medical advice under any circumstances.
+If you, or anyone you know, are experiencing suicidal ideations, please visit the [https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/ International Association for Suicide Prevention]
+}}
-Humanity is experiencing a '''[[Global crisis in mental health|crisis in mental health]]'''.
+== Introduction ==
+This toolkit exists to make '''''freely available''''' and '''''accessible''''' the theory, practical implementation guidelines, and most prominent research in the field of [[Social Network Health]].
-A key result from meta analysis is that although many factors are believed to increase the risk of developing a mental health condition, focusing on those factors is not the most efficient way to reduce the prevalence of mental health conditions. [citation required]
+For anyone who wants to use a Social Network Health approach to improve the health of their community, this toolkit will provide the essential theory, which should be understood first, and basic implementation information to provide enough of the scope and precautionary information to evaluate training materials.
-Instead, building protective factors across a community, resulting in a widespread sense of '''[[belonging]]''' seems to be extremely effective in reducing the risk of mental health conditions.
+Use the major sections below to navigate, and please read through the context section below if you are ever in doubt of the context of this toolkit.  [https://groups.google.com/a/socialnetwork.health/g/discuss/ We are easy to reach.]
-Individuals who feel a sense of belonging in their community have the skills and environment they need to become more involved and to '''[[Help-Seeking Behaviors|actively seek the help]]''' they need.
+== Major Sections ==
-To make that happen in a community (a school '''[[environment]]''', for example), the school community must develop '''[[group cohesion]]'''.  Group cohesion is created from strong, healthy connections between '''[[Peer-influenced|student peers]]''' and between students and '''[[trusted adult guides]]''' throughout the community.
+{{Colored box|icon=Tiny_logo_x1.png|background-title-color=#36c|title=Sections|title-color=#fff|background-content-color=#eaf3ff|content=
+'''''The Major Sections of this toolkit can be navigated via the hamburger menu: '''''
-To engage with one another optimally, a community must discover the strengths of individuals and groups.  '''[[Discovery]]''' must be practiced and developed as a skill.  Active learning and heavily '''[[peer-influenced]]''' activities and initiatives have been show to be effective as part of a methodology to kick-start discovery and ultimately lead to '''[[deep conversations]]''', which are the most powerful method of learning and bonding in social networks.
+* [[Theory]] - The Key Findings in Social Network Health and their context.
+* [[Practical Implementation]] - The fundamentals of practical implementation of a social network health approach.
+* [[Research Library]] - '''TBD''' Primary resources, seminal research, educational video explainers, and links to external resources.
-When a '''[[whole school community]]''' is cohesive, and has strong, healthy connections throughout, it’s members become more activated, more engaged, and more energized.  The time spent building healthy connections is repaid manyfold by a reduction in suicide, '''[[pruning]]''' and '''[[disciplinary incidents]]''', by an increase in attendance and performance, and by an emotionally '''[[recharged community]]''' that spends the bulk of their time working '''[[Preventative Mental Health Care|preventatively]]''', instead of performing interventions after disruptive and damaging incidents.
+}}
+== Context ==
-The makeup of a healthy school environment is unique to every school.  A healthy school environment cannot be duplicated by simply following a written manual or video series and/or taking a one-time training - rather, such an environment is built by developing [[Ecological Validity|'''ecologically valid''' '''skills and practices''']] that are unique to each community.  These skills and practices become '''[[cultural norms]]''' that are developed across years of '''[[consistency]]''' of practice.
+=== Project Status ===
+The current status of this Toolkit is: '''Alpha'''
-== Context: ==
+''That means we are testing this Toolkit and seeking peer review. This toolkit should currently be useful, informative, and not misleading.  However, this site should not yet be relied upon alone to evaluate an approach, training system, or program.''
-=== Defining the Social Network Health Approach within an integrated system of care: ===
+What we have done to date:
-This toolkit describes [[the Social Network Health Approach]] to preventative mental health care, drawing on published research from the University of Rochester Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide and from the implementations by preventative mental health care professionals in close cooperation with them.
-Preventative care is only one category of care within [[Holistic integrated system of care|a holistic integrated system of mental health care]].  Simplistically and fundamentally, it is critically important to address both Preventative and Emergency care within an integrated system.  Preventative care is clearly preferable, when effective, to emergency care when the risk of suicide is in play.
+* We have filmed and interviewed the most prominent research team in the field, and dozens of school administrators, teachers, counselors, students and education professionals.
+* We have enumerated the key findings in theory, and added references and video support for each. NOTE: we have only added one researcher interview, and one research paper, to test the content and format of this site - so we have dozens more interviews and papers to add.
+* We have enumerated the basic precautions and scope of practical implementation
-==== Active Research ====
+=== Project History ===
-The Network Health Approach describes tools and methods that are under active study, development, and use.
+This project was conceived in 2021 to document successful implementations in Social Network Health.  [https://socialnetwork.health The Social Network Health project] has been filming teachers, students, administrators, counselors, researchers and others since early 2022 - that is ongoing as of this writing.  In the process, we have collected research and observed common language, practices, and wisdom that is best compiled and presented in this living, mixed media format.  We will be launching the first useful release of this site in 2024.
-This means that this toolkit will be updated as new research dictates, and, most importantly the version history will reflect changes accurately.
+To learn more about the team, mission, and values of the Social Network Health Project, see [https://socialnetwork.health/about the about page on our main website.]
+=== Non-commercial Project ===
+Note that this is a charitable, non-commercial project - you can't buy anything here or on our main site, and we won't recommend anything for purchase.  However, we will review and profile materials and training professionals on our main site in interviews, blog posts, and videos.
+=== Active Research Area ===
+The Network Health Approach describes tools and methods that are under active study, development, and use.
+This means that this toolkit will be updated as new research dictates, and, most importantly the version history will reflect changes accurately.
 To ensure that you have the latest information, you can check the most recent update date on any page in this wiki, view and read the full version history, see when it was last peer-reviewed, sign up for updates to this toolkit, join our discussion group, and apply to become an editor.
@@ Line 35: / Line 52: @@
 We will update this with new research as it develops.  We have a research page where new contexts in which these tools can be used will be described as the tools are applied, researched, and tested within them.
-==== Schools First ====
+=== Schools First ===
-Throughout this toolkit, we will assume the context of a school.  We are focused on helping there because the need for preventative solutions and research is strong.  However, this approach has been proven effective in other contexts such as in the United States Air Force, Police departments, and other contexts you can learn more about on the research page.
+Throughout this toolkit, we will typically assume the context of a school.  We are focused on helping there because the need for preventative solutions and research is strong.  However, this approach has been proven effective in other contexts such as in the United States Air Force, Police departments, and other contexts you can learn more about on the research page.
+Schools are a priority because of their vulnerable, high-potential populations, but also because they have become community hubs and therefore the second and third places in the terminology of Oldenburg.  Their increasing importance in modern society as community infrastructure warrants our full attention.  Schools can even pull family (the first place) into community by organizing family oriented activities and relationship building.
+For that reason, we will use language that is appropriate for schools - we will make research language accessible to schools specifically.
+=== Universality of the Approach ===
+We believe that a high-level Social Network Health approach that is universally useful for all communities can be defined, but such an approach must not dictate implementation details.
+Certainly, any remotely universal approach cannot look like the implementation of what is commonly sold as a "program" by most professional development companies.
+'''Approaches develop programs'''
+An "approach" refers to a broad strategy or framework that offers evidence-based principles, logical reasoning, guidelines, and wisdom. It serves as a foundation for developing specific interventions and guiding overall practices. In contrast, a "program" is the practical application of an approach, akin to a detailed recipe that specifies how to implement those principles in real-world settings. While programs can effectively translate an approach into action, their repeated use may sometimes lead to a focus on the procedures rather than the underlying logic, wisdom, and evidence that inspired the approach in the first place.
+Ecological validity is one finding of Social Network Health research that demands that a program is developed specifically and uniquely for a community -  . This contention is supported by researched implementation across a breadth of communities.
+==== Programs must yield to culture ====
+Programs are developed from approaches and ideally should dissolve into strong cultural values and practices - long after the programs are forgotten, the approach and cultural practices can stay resident in a community.
-==== Universality of the Approach ====
+A network health approach to preventative care attempts to make individual and community protective factors and social norms a part of everyday culture.  Network health approaches that address these processes and can only maintain their universality if they are co-implemented by the community they are developed in.
-Programs are developed from approaches.  Ecological validity is one part of the Network Health Approach that demands that a program is developed specifically and uniquely for a community - that’s what makes this approach so broadly applicable.  This contention is supported by researched implementation across a breadth of communities.
-==== Difference from previous approaches ====
+=== Historical Context ===
-A network health approach to preventative care builds individual and community '''[[protective factors]]''' and '''[[social norms]]'''.  Network health approaches that address these processes, such as maximizing youth-adult connections schoolwide and heightening influence of youth with coping, create more protective schools.
+The history of preventative mental health care is beyond the scope of this wiki, but it is worth arguing that the characteristics of Social Network Health approaches differ from how mental health has been approached in modern societies most of the world over for the last 100 years, but they are not that different from what existed and still does exist in most cultures in the more distant past. The fact that research has taken humanity full circle to rediscovered excellence is notable and in some cases relevant.  Some discussion of this is relevant to understanding practical implementation roadblocks, so this history is expanded on in the [[Practical Implementation|implementation]] page.
-===== History =====
+=== Medical Model v. Strengths model ===
-The history of preventative mental health care is beyond the scope of this wiki, but it is worth arguing that the characteristics of this approach are different than what has been created in the societies of most of the world over the last 100 years, but they are not that different from what existed and still does exist in most cultures in the more distant past.  Not an immediate focus, but the fact that research has taken humanity full circle to rediscovered excellence is notable and in some cases relevant.
+We are attempting to outline Social Network Health in the context of what we call a "strengths model".  The "medical model" of care requires identification of a weakness to begin recommending treatment. In mental health care, some issues have no strong correlates that can be identified as weaknesses early on. Interestingly, there are correlates that can be identified as risk factors in communities that are much stronger indicators of future risk, and more readily identifiable, than individual risk factors.[citation needed] In some cases, strengths-based models that seek to identify strengths of individuals and communities have been shown to be more effective in reducing risk factors than a weakness-based medical model. Treating a community preventatively withy a strengths based-model can also be done without isolating individuals as weak links, separating them from connections. Instead, a strengths based preventative care program identifies strengths and integrates individuals into broader communities.
-===== Medical Model v. Strengths model  - Isolate v. Integrate =====
-The [[medical model]] of care requires identification of a weakness to begin recommending treatment.  In mental health care, some issues have no strong correlates that can be identified as weaknesses early on.  Interestingly, there are correlates that can be identified as risk factors in communities that are much stronger indicators of future risk, and more readily identifiable, than individual risk factors.  In some cases, [[strengths-based models]] that seek to identify strengths of individuals and communities have been shown to be more effective in reducing risk factors than a weakness-based medical model.  Treating a community preventatively withy a strengths based-model can also be done without isolating individuals as weak links, separating them from connections.  Instead, a strengths based preventative care program identifies strengths and integrates individuals into broader communities.
-In the parlance of [[Social Emotional Learning]] in US schools there Tiers - Tier 1 (prevention-based) comes before Tier 3 (isolation-based) because it is, colloquially, terrible to have to isolate people - generally, Tier 1 is the success case and Tier 3 is the last line of defense for individuals who need it.  This is appropriate prioritization from the perspective of a social network health approach.  In practical implementation, however, far fewer communities put as many resources into effective Tier 1 programming as Tier 3.
+{{Colored box
+| icon = Tiny_logo_x1.png
+| background-title-color = #36c
+| title = Notable Works In Progress (WIP)
+| title-color = #fff
+| background-content-color = #eaf3ff
+| content = ==Other Works In Progress Here==
-TBD - We could make a matrix of all the characteristics of programs out there and see where the network health approach fits - that might be overkill to start with, but it would be useful to those who are trying to find the right approach in a sea of approaches.
+These pages are notable and we are actively seeking feedback on them, but they are less complete, mostly idea-stage, and shouldn't be used or quoted until we remove them from this section, or they are completed and removed from this WIP section.
-== Practical Implementation ==
+* [[SNH Maturity Model]] - Super experimental idea-stage page that begins the thought experiment to determine the maturity of a communities effort to improve Social Network Health.
-TBD - this is where we add a very brief summary of the practical implementation sections, which are much more linear and will have their own flow.
+* [[Protective Factors]] - Straightforward page where we will collect summaries, research quotes, video shorts on various protective factors.
-=== Precautions ===
+* [[Stream Strategy Modeling Resources]] - We are curating and assessing models of integrated systems of health care that model resource allocation strategies and expected outcomes.
-TBD
+}}