Grant: Project Grant

Healthy public policies are key strategies for supporting health. While some places have policies that "make the healthy choice easier", those policies vary widely. There is little research that helps coordinate healthy public policy adoption across places. We need research about which healthy public policies are the most acceptable to, and highest priority for, policymakers and the general public. The HeAlth, Prevention, and Policy ENvironments (HAPPEN) project will address this critical gap. We will study the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of policymakers and the public about policies related to preventing chronic disease and promoting mental health. Our team created a survey of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on policies related to chronic disease prevention. To date, we have done 5 surveys (2009-16) of the public and policymakers in AB, MB, PQ, NWT. Now, we propose to: i) use research and practice expertise to add mental health and addiction policies to the survey; ii) include all of Canada; and, iii) work with international partners to do surveys in AUS and the USA. We will conduct email and phone surveys with school, workplace, municipal, provincial, and federal policymakers and the public. HAPPEN's research-practice team will gather and share policy evidence, develop practitioner resources, and host annual topic-specific summit meetings. Our past surveys helped partners act on policy opportunities, evaluate policies, and target advocacy efforts (e.g., smoke-free vehicles, school food strategies). Currently, there is no other survey that asks both policymakers and the public about policies related to chronic disease, mental health and addictions. We will share our data to help NGOs and others act on the most promising policies and focus policymakers' attention on policies with strong public support. HAPPEN will create new and much needed evidence on trends in policy priorities over time and place, enhancing policy action and evaluation in Canada and abroad.