Physical Activity Promotion Education of Future Mental Healthcare Workers in Aotearoa New Zealand

The present study exploratively investigated the education in physical activity promotion to future mental healthcare workers before entering the workplace as a mental healthcare worker such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellor, social worker or nurse. This study aimed to answer the following questions: how is education in physical activity promotion being taught to future psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, social workers, and nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand, if at all? If physical activity promotion is taught, how does this prepare future mental healthcare workers to promote physical activity in the workplace?

and are the principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi considered in the education being offered, if so, how? The pragmatic approach to qualitative research involved sixteen coordinators and seventy-four educators providing semi-structured survey responses, which were thematically analysed as per Braun & Clarke's model. Following analysis, four prominent findings were suggested: At present, formal education in physical activity promotion among future mental healthcare professionals is lacking, and does not appear to be priority; Barriers to offering formal education in physical activity promotion include resource constraints, competing educational demands, and gaps in educator knowledge; Proposed solutions include standardisation across institutions and professions, offering educators evidence about population-specific benefits, and incorporating the Te Ao Māori perspective and cultural considerations in education regarding physical activity and Te Whare Tapa Whā emerged as the preferred framework within which to position physical activity when educating future mental healthcare professionals. Currently, future mental healthcare workers are not prepared for the workplace, with little knowledge of physical activity or how to promote it to clients/patients. Educators could offer a formal education in physical activity promotion across a variety of disciplines prior to employment as a mental healthcare worker.

Keywords: Physical, Activity, Promotion, Health, Education