Purpose of this handbook

ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT TRAINING (ACT) FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION is a training manual developed by Dr. Kenneth Po-Lun Fung, University of Toronto and University Health Network, and Dr. Josephine Pui-Hing Wong, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University) for use with the Strength-In-Unity Project, funded by the Movember Foundation (Canada).

The goal of this handbook is to engage Asian boys and men in Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto to address stigma of mental illness. As described in the project background, the research team will work closely with the intervention associates hired at each of the three cities to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of ACT – used alone or in combination with Context-based Empowerment Education (CEE) – in reducing enacted or self-stigma.

The purpose of this training manual is multifold:

• To provide clear and concise instructions on how to implement the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Training in a group setting;
• To support project team members in implementing ACT intervention activities effectively and consistently;
• To promote adherence to the implementation process so that intervention activities are carried out as designed and intended;

To provide the materials required for the evaluation of how well ACT has been implemented