A Group Model Building Approach to Understanding Mental Health Challenges After a Cardiac Event

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychiatry
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Mental health is crucial for recovery after acute cardiac events.
• Factors influencing mental health post-cardiac event are complex and interconnected.
• Understanding these factors across the care continuum is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-develop a shared understanding of factors influencing mental health after a cardiac event.
• To identify priority intervention areas informed by lived experience and stakeholders.
• To map the interconnected domains affecting mental health in cardiac recovery.

Main Methods:

• Group Model Building facilitated collaborative exploration and visual mapping.
• Workshops involved consumers with lived experience (n=3) and stakeholders (n=9).
• Focus was on factors influencing mental health throughout the cardiac healthcare journey.

Main Results:

• Eight interconnected domains influencing mental health were identified: knowledge, skills, health system context, personal context, emotional response, social influences, behavioral regulation, and beliefs about capabilities.
• Key priorities highlighted include health literacy, systemic support, service navigation, and person-centered approaches.
• A visual map illustrated the complex interplay of factors affecting mental health.

Conclusions:

• Supporting mental health post-cardiac event necessitates coordinated, multi-level interventions.
• Interventions must address interacting individual, service-level, and community factors.
• A holistic approach is required to improve mental health outcomes in cardiac recovery.