Fighting mental illness is the world’s The main cause of disability. Suffering from Coronavirus Pandemic, An under-resourced mental health system Already trying to keep up.But getting care is limited Three obstacles: lack of professional care providers, inherent stigma surrounding mental health issues, and distrust of institutions.
This situation is by no means static and terrible.Both the public and private sectors have demonstrated Willingness to promote changeRegardless of whether the community’s financial resources are large or small, innovative programs are expected to improve the efficiency of access to medical services. They combine the latest science with the digital delivery of information and services, as well as collaborative efforts between mental health challengers, professionals, and the entire community.
Digital care options provided through remote treatment and various new applications have exploded Grow During the epidemic. The online service covers the most remote areas, avoiding the fear of being stigmatized by making the decision to seek treatment. They can effectively expand the capacity of health and social services. But they cannot overcome the lack of professional therapists.The lack of providers of coordinated care means that even application-based remote treatments face challenge Help those in need.
One solution is to strengthen peer and community support to expand the effectiveness and scope of face-to-face and online mental health care.A major development is that people with mental illness help others by offering Companion support Show that they are not alone in the struggle with mental health. People facing mental health problems help with recovery by building trust among peers who have similar experiences. A nursing team composed of peers leads group discussions and serves as a coach for other people experiencing psychological challenges.Training and support Community health worker It also helps. Community health workers are non-professional members of the community. Their task is to provide basic health care, including prevention, health promotion and rehabilitation services, so as to provide care to more people in need around the world.Research has begun to show the effectiveness of these methods, even when delivered online.
people The private sector in some countries has developed plans that combine these methods.Online mental health support and services, such as Work together, Reach out, 7 cups with UCLAOften designed and provided by colleagues in the community, it has become a trusted source of help and referral for young people, their families and other people in distress and dealing with mental illness. Public-private partnership, Strong 365’s New York Will It is a digital outreach pilot project aimed at helping young people facing severe mental illness episodes. NYWell’s search engine and social media ads link to a website that provides help ranging from self-education and online peer support to more in-depth professional care. Since its launch in New York State in November 2020, the site has attracted thousands of visitors. Approximately half of the visitors received a self-administered mental health screening test. One in ten people contacted a peer or therapist online, and one in five was referred to community care. The plan is being expanded, and a randomized controlled trial has begun to measure its effectiveness. Early research results show that young people facing severe mental illness are willing to participate in so-called hierarchical online care, from peer interactions to meetings with professional therapists.
Continuing progress will require cooperation among people with mental illness, community workers, mental health and technical professionals, public and private sector leaders, and others. However, these plans show the promise of a breakthrough in providing care to people no matter where they are.
This is an opinion and analysis article, and the opinions expressed by the author or author are not necessarily those of the author Scientific American.