Embedded Change in Mental Health: Implementation of a Group-Based Lifestyle Programme in Housing Support Services in...

This study explores the implementation of a lifestyle programme within municipal mental health services from the perspectives of staff working with housing support, focusing on the challenges and facilitators that shaped its delivery over time. Drawing on longitudinal data collected across three time points, the findings highlight the complexity of implementing lifestyle programmes in fragmented service environments. While early stages were marked by staff engagement and contextual adaptation, sustainability was hindered by staff turnover, limited organisational anchoring, and unclear responsibilities. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to analyse how organisational context, leadership, and timing influenced outcomes. The study underscores the importance of shared responsibility, embedded support structures, and flexible implementation strategies. It also points to the potential of cross-sector collaboration, particularly with third sector organisations, as a means of sustaining preventive efforts when internal resources are constrained. Overall, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how complex interventions can be adapted and maintained in real-world mental health settings.