Any intervention is done to improve individuals' and communities' mental health and wellbeing ( ).
Improving an individual's, family, group's, or community's ability to reinforce or promote good emotional, cognitive, and associated experiences ( ).
The term “mental health promotion” also has definitional challenges as it signifies different things to different individuals. For some, it means the treatment of mental illness; for others, it means preventing the occurrence of mental illness; while for others, it means increasing the ability to manage frustration, stress, and difficulties by strengthening one's resilience and coping abilities ( 54 ). It involves promoting the value of mental health and improving the coping capacities of individuals rather than amelioration of symptoms and deficits.
Mental health promotion is a broad concept that encompasses the entire population, and it advocates for a strengths-based approach and tries to address the broader determinants of mental health. The objective is to eliminate health inequalities via empowerment, collaboration, and participation. There is mounting evidence that mental health promotion interventions improve mental health, lower the risk of developing mental disorders ( 48 , 55 , 56 ) and have socioeconomic benefits ( 24 ). In addition, it strives to increase an individual's capacity for psychosocial wellbeing and adversity adaptation ( 11 ).
However, the concepts of mental health promotion, protection, and prevention are intrinsically linked and intertwined. Furthermore, most mental diseases result from complex interaction risk and protective factors instead of a definite etiology. Facilitating the development and timely attainment of developmental milestones across an individual's lifespan is critical for positive mental health ( 57 ). Although mental health promotion and prevention are essential aspects of public health with wide-ranging benefits, their feasibility and implementation are marred by financial and resource constraints. The lack of cost-effectiveness studies, particularly from the LMICs, further restricts its full realization ( 47 , 58 , 59 ).
Despite the significance of the topic and a considerable amount of literature on it, a comprehensive review is still lacking that would cover the concept of mental health promotion and prevention and simultaneously discusses various interventions, including the novel techniques delivered across the lifespan, in different settings, and level of prevention. Therefore, this review aims to analyze the existing literature on various mental health promotion and prevention-based interventions and their effectiveness. Furthermore, its attempts to highlight the implications of such intervention in low-resource settings and provides future directions. Such literature would add to the existing literature on mental health promotion and prevention research and provide key insights into the effectiveness of such interventions and their feasibility and replicability in various settings.
For the current review, key terms like “mental health promotion,” OR “protection,” OR “prevention,” OR “mitigation” were used to search relevant literature on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases, considering a time period between 2000 to 2019 ( Supplementary Material 1 ). However, we have restricted our search till 2019 for non-original articles (reviews, commentaries, viewpoints, etc.), assuming that it would also cover most of the original articles published until then. Additionally, we included original papers from the last 5 years (2016–2021) so that they do not get missed out if not covered under any published review. The time restriction of 2019 for non-original articles was applied to exclude papers published during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as the latter was a significant event, bringing about substantial change and hence, it warranted a different approach to cater to the MH needs of the population, including MH prevention measures. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the flooding of novel interventions for mental health prevention and promotion, specifically targeting the pandemic and its consequences, which, if included, could have biased the findings of the current review on various MH promotion and prevention interventions.
A time frame of about 20 years was taken to see the effectiveness of various MH promotion and protection interventions as it would take substantial time to be appreciated in real-world situations. Therefore, the current paper has put greater reliance on the review articles published during the last two decades, assuming that it would cover most of the original articles published until then.
The above search yielded 320 records: 225 articles from Google scholar, 59 articles from PubMed, and 36 articles from the Cochrane database flow-diagram of records screening. All the records were title/abstract screened by all the authors to establish the suitability of those records for the current review; a bibliographic- and gray literature search was also performed. In case of any doubts or differences in opinion, it was resolved by mutual discussion. Only those articles directly related to mental health promotion, primary prevention, and related interventions were included in the current review. In contrast, records that discussed any specific conditions/disorders (post-traumatic stress disorders, suicide, depression, etc.), specific intervention (e.g., specific suicide prevention intervention) that too for a particular population (e.g., disaster victims) lack generalizability in terms of mental health promotion or prevention, those not available in the English language, and whose full text was unavailable were excluded. The findings of the review were described narratively.
Various interventions have been designed for mental health promotion and prevention. They are delivered and evaluated across the regions (high-income countries to low-resource settings, including disaster-affiliated regions of the world), settings (community-based, school-based, family-based, or individualized); utilized different psychological constructs and therapies (cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral interventions, coping skills training, interpersonal therapies, general health education, etc.); and delivered by different professionals/facilitators (school-teachers, mental health professionals or paraprofessionals, peers, etc.). The details of the studies, interventions used, and outcomes have been provided in Supplementary Table 1 . Below we provide the synthesized findings of the available research.
The majority of the available studies were quantitative and experimental. Randomized controlled trials comprised a sizeable proportion of the studies; others were quasi-experimental studies and, a few, qualitative studies. The studies primarily focussed on school students or the younger population, while others were explicitly concerned with the mental health of young females ( 60 ). Newer data is emerging on mental health promotion and prevention interventions for elderlies (e.g., dementia) ( 61 ). The majority of the research had taken a broad approach to mental health promotion ( 62 ). However, some studies have focused on universal prevention ( 63 , 64 ) or selective prevention ( 65 – 68 ). For instance, the Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAPA) was implemented across the schools and has utilized cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal therapies and reported a significant improvement in depressive symptoms. Some of the interventions were directed at enhancing an individual's characteristics like resilience, behavior regulation, and coping skills (ZIPPY's Friends) ( 69 ), while others have focused on the promotion of social and emotional competencies among the school children and attempted to reduce the gap in such competencies across the socio-economic classes (“Up” program) ( 70 ) or utilized expressive abilities of the war-affected children (Writing for Recover (WfR) intervention) ( 71 ) to bring about an improvement in their psychological problems (a type of selective prevention) ( 62 ) or harnessing the potential of Art, in the community-based intervention, to improve self-efficacy, thus preventing mental disorders (MAD about Art program) ( 72 ). Yet, others have focused on strengthening family ( 60 , 73 ), community relationships ( 62 ), and targeting modifiable risk factors across the life course to prevent dementia among the elderlies and also to support the carers of such patients ( 61 ).
Furthermore, more of the studies were conducted and evaluated in the developed parts of the world, while emerging economies, as anticipated, far lagged in such interventions or related research. The interventions that are specifically adapted for local resources, such as school-based programs involving paraprofessionals and teachers in the delivery of mental health interventions, were shown to be more effective ( 62 , 74 ). Likewise, tailored approaches for low-resource settings such as LMICs may also be more effective ( 63 ). Some of these studies also highlight the beneficial role of a multi-dimensional approach ( 68 , 75 ) and interventions targeting early lifespan ( 76 , 77 ).
With the advent of digital technology and simultaneous traction on mental health promotion and prevention interventions, preventive psychiatrists and public health experts have developed novel techniques to deliver mental health promotive and preventive interventions. These encompass different settings (e.g., school, home, workplace, the community at large, etc.) and levels of prevention (universal, selective, indicated) ( 78 – 80 ).
The advanced technologies and novel interventions have broadened the scope of MH promotion and prevention, such as addressing the mental health issues of individuals with chronic medical illness ( 81 , 82 ), severe mental disorders ( 83 ), children and adolescents with mental health problems, and geriatric population ( 78 ). Further, it has increased the accessibility and acceptability of such interventions in a non-stigmatizing and tailored manner. Moreover, they can be integrated into the routine life of the individuals.
For instance, Internet-and Mobile-based interventions (IMIs) have been utilized to monitor health behavior as a form of MH prevention and a stand-alone self-help intervention. Moreover, the blended approach has expanded the scope of MH promotive and preventive interventions such as face-to-face interventions coupled with remote therapies. Simultaneously, it has given way to the stepped-care (step down or step-up care) approach of treatment and its continuation ( 79 ). Also, being more interactive and engaging is particularly useful for the youth.
The blended model of care has utilized IMIs to a varying degree and at various stages of the psychological interventions. This includes IMIs as a supplementary approach to the face-to-face-interventions (FTFI), FTFI augmented by behavior intervention technologies (BITs), BITs augmented by remote human support, and fully automated BITs ( 84 ).
The stepped care model of mental health promotion and prevention strategies includes a stepped-up approach, wherein BITs are utilized to manage the prodromal symptoms, thereby preventing the onset of the full-blown episode. In the Stepped-down approach, the more intensive treatments (in-patient or out-patient based interventions) are followed and supplemented with the BITs to prevent relapse of the mental illness, such as for previously admitted patients with depression or substance use disorders ( 85 , 86 ).
Similarly, the latest research has developed newer interventions for strengthening the psychological resilience of the public or at-risk individuals, which can be delivered at the level of the home, such as, e.g., nurse family partnership program (to provide support to the young and vulnerable mothers and prevent childhood maltreatment) ( 87 ); family healing together program aimed at improving the mental health of the family members living with persons with mental illness (PwMI) ( 88 ). In addition, various novel interventions for MH promotion and prevention have been highlighted in the Table 2 .
Depiction of various novel mental health promotion and prevention strategies.
Community-Based MH Services Community pharmacy program (Australia) | physical community pharmacist who dispense medicines to the public | • Distributing in-store leaflets on mental wellbeing, posters display and linking with existing national • MH organizations/ campaigns | MH promotion of adults visitors to the pharmacy. | • A suitable environment for MH promotion, particularly for a person with lived experience. • Community pharmacy is widely distributed and easily accessible. • Lack of privacy and the busy pharmacy environment were, however, identified as potential barriers. |
Technology-based mental health promotional intervention for later life ( ) | Systematic review | Technology use for elderly education, computer/internet exposure or training, telephone/internet communication, and computer gaming. | = 25 interventional studies, significant positive effects on psychosocial outcomes among the intervention recipients. | • Digital inclusion and training of elderlies are important. • Initiatives early in the life can promote and protect wellbeing in later life. |
- training of teachers in MH promotion (Canada) ( ) | Multisite pre-post study | • Duration of in-class teaching: 8–12 h, 1 day of teachers training. • Teacher's self-study guide, teacher's knowledge self-assessment, student evaluation materials, and six-core modules for the teachers . : A-Vs and web-linked resources. | Significant improvements in teachers' knowledge and attitudes toward mental wellbeing and illness with large effect sizes. | A scalable model can be incorporated in the routine professional training and education for the teachers. |
Magazine (Canada) ( ) MH literacy | Online interactive health and MH programming and materials for teachers and students on MH literacy | • Series of online and classroom-based activities and workshops. • Smartphone and desktop/ tablet versions also available | • : a high percentage of students use these resources for MH information. • Students with considerable distress use more online resources and likely to access further help (e.g., school-based MH center) • High satisf'n with web site | A scalable model that has high usability and accessibility. |
Community program/campaign R U OK? (2009, Australia) And Beyondblue campaign for the public ( , ) | • online/ telephonic conversion. • Condition: Suicide prevention | • To connect with those experiencing MH problems. Providing resources and tips for the same. • People are advised to ask; listen non-judgementally; encourage the person to take action, e.g., visit an MHP; and follow up with that person. | Knowledge about the causes and recognition of mental illness had increased over time, increased willingness of the people to talk with others about their MH problems and seek professional help, including decreasing stigma a/w help-seeking. | Can be replicated in the low-resource setting; however, feasibility and effectiveness studies are warranted before implementation. |
Workplace | • Workplace wellness program (Canada) • Mode of delivery: offline and online activities | Promoted MH as well as healthy behaviors such as physical activity, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and work-life balance to encourage presenteeism | Increased presentism, decreasing workplace stress and depression. | • The program needs to be tailored to the needs which could vary from place to place. • Implementation in low-resource settings may be a challenge. |
• Green exercise (Norway) ( ) Municipality employees • Condition: workplace stress | Stress Mgt. program: exercising in nature (information meeting and 2 exercise sessions, biking bout and circuit strengthening exercise), over traditional indoor exercise routines, in promoting MH and reducing stress. | Higher environmental potential for restoration and Positive Affect, which persisted on 10 wks follow-up. | • May be logistically challenging. • Require further exploration. | |
• Guided E-Learning for Managers • online | Intervention to identify sources of stress, better understand the link of mental and physical illness and improve managers' capacity to help their employees proactively deal with stressful working conditions | Better understanding among the managers further impacts the psychosocial needs of their teams. | • Lesser engagement of the managers. • Greater involvement is required. • Identifying key personnel challenging. | |
• School-based program secondary education students (age 13–16 yrs.) ( ) • Condition: eating disorders | Young[E]spirit stepped program (IA) vs. online-psychoeducation intervention (CG) | Screening and customized risk feedback with recommendations for specific self-help modules, monitoring of symptoms and risk behavior and synchronous group and Individual online chats till the individual FTF counseling. | • = 1,667 adolescent receiving the online intervention (IA) in two waves. • Prevention of EDs • significantly reduced ED onset rates in the IA vs. CG) schools in the first wave (5.6%, vs. 9.6%) but no significant diff. in the second wave | Replicability, acceptability, and feasibility concerns in low-resource settings. |
• Home-based • Nurse family partnership program (Elmira, Memphis, and Denver) ( ). • Condition: Women with some psycho'cal problems due to early pregnancy (<19 yrs), single mother, unmarried women low-socio-economic status, etc. | • review of 3RCTs • women receive home visitation services during pregnancy and in the first 2 yrs post-partum • comparison services. | • Specific assessments of maternal, child, and family functioning that correspond to pregnancy and 2 yrs thereafter. • Dietary monitoring, assessment and mgt. of smoking, alcohol, and other illicit substance use; teach women to identify the signs and Symptoms of pregnancy complications; curricula are used to promote parent-child interaction. | • = 1,139. • improved the quality of diets, lesser cigarette smoking, fewer preterm delivery, fewer behavioral problems due to substance use, • IA: Children more communicative and responsive toward their mothers, had lesser emergency visits, lesser childhood maltreatment, fewer behavioral problems. | • Reduce stigma among mothers with psychological problems. • Can be replicated in a country like India with a huge community health workforce (Anganwadi workers, ANM, etc.) |
Family healing together program | • Family mental health recovery program. • Online | Eight-week online aimed at recovery-oriented psychoeducation and coping with an MH challenge in the family. | • Qualitative. • Emphasized hope toward recovery, improved accessibility. • The curriculum was user friendly incorporating diversity to make it useful for everyone. • Greater need of such programs Need of scholarship and sponsorship for participation • The service fee is a limitation. | Replication in resource-poor and LMIC can be an issue. |
• (SHUTi) (Australia) ( ) • sleep problems in patients with a history of depression | • Mode of delivery: online • Unguided fully automated Internet-based intervention for (SHUTi) or to Healthwatch. | • Six sequential modules comprising Sleep hygiene, cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention, • Maintenance of sleep diary • PHQ-9 | • = SHUTi ( = 574) or HealthWatch ( = 575). • Significant improvement in complaints of insomnia and depression symptom at 6 wks and 6 months FUs (vs. Healthwatch gr.). • Decrease in prevention of the depressive episose non-significant | Long-term data is warranted to conclude its efficacy in the prevention of depressive episodes. |
Internet chat groups for relapse prevention ( ) • Conditions: various mental illnesses | • Transdiagnostic non-manualized Internet-chat group as a stepped-care intervention following in-patient psychotherapy. • Mode of delivery: online | • 8–10 participants/gr., who communicate with a therapist in an internet chat room @ once/week at a fixed time for 1 ½ h to communicate in written format. • Number of sessions:10–12 • support patients in maintaining treatment gains and assisting them in practicing skills they learned during their hospital stay to everyday life. | • = 152, • internet chat groups • TAU • Outcome: 1 year after discharge. • For any relapse: fewer participants (22.2%) of IA (vs. CG: 46.5%) experienced a relapse | Generalizability across the setting and users' privacy could be the issues. |
• Get.ON mood enhancer prevention ( ) • Condition: sub-syndromal depression | • Internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention (IA) vs. online passive psychoeducation intervention (CG). • online | • Involves behavior therapy and problem-solving therapy. • Total six lessons with two sessions/week, • Lessons involve text, exercises, and testimonials which are interactive involving Audio (relaxation ex.)-Visual clips (concept of behavioral activation). Transfer of tasks (home assignments) in daily routine. | • = 406, • Significantly lesser participants of the IA (32 vs. 47% CG) experienced an MDD at 12 m follow-up. • NNT = 5.9 | The utility needs to be established in those with previous depressive episodes. |
• Internet-based CBT ( ) • Condition: self-report symptoms of depressive, but not meeting the diagnostic criteria for MDD | • Internet-based CBT (Delivered in comic form) vs. waitlist. • Comic format increases the motivation of the participants and facilitated easy learning. | • Six- web-based training in stress mgt. delivered over 6 weeks with each session of 30 min/week. • self-monitoring, cognitive restructuring, assertiveness, problem-solving, and relaxation with homework | • = 822 • lower incidence of the depressive episode at the 12 months FU, with the prevalence of 0.8 and 3.9% in IA and CG, respectively. • NTT = 32 | Needs to be tailored as per the different cultural contexts. |
• Project UPLIFT ( ) • Condition: adult epilepsy patients with • Sub-syndromic depression | • 8-week web or telephone-delivered mindfulness-based • stand-alone intervention vs. TAU waitlist (CG) | • 8-module, delivered in a group format. • Component: increase knowledge about depression; observing, challenging, and changing of thoughts; relaxing and coping techniques; attention and mindfulness; focusing on pleasure; the significance of reinforcement; and relapse prevention. • self-reported outcomes on depression and MDD, knowledge/skills, and life satisfaction. • At baseline, 10 weeks, and 20 weeks FUs. | • = 64 • incidence of depressive episode and depressive symptoms were significantly lower IA vs. CG. No difference b/w web-based vs. telephonic intervention. • Better knowledge, skills and life satisfaction increased significantly in the IA. | • Increased accessibility for persons with epilepsy whose mobility has been affected by the illness. • Could cater to the hard-to-reach population. • Can be replicated in other disabling medical illnesses. |
• Naslund et al. ( ) • Digital Technology for Building Capacity of Non-specialist Health Workers for Task-Sharing and Scaling Up Mental HealthCare Globally | • Type of article: • Perspective. • Role of digital technology for enabling non-specialist health professionals in implementing evidence-based MH interventions | • Use of digital platforms in different LMICs for providing training to HCWs, diagnosis and treating mental disorders and providing an integrated service. Such as: • The Atmiyata Intervention and The SMART MH Project in India, • TACTS for Thinking Healthy Program in Pakistan, • The Friendship Bench in Zimbabwe, • The Allillanchu Project in Peru, • Community-based LEAN in China, • EXPONATE for Perinatal Depression in Nigeria | Some of the interventions have reported significant positive outcomes while other interventions are being evaluated for their effectiveness | These interventions highlight the potential of better implementation of task sharing with non-specialist health professional approach and may help in reducing the global treatment gap esp. in low resource countries |
• Maron et al. ( ) • Manifesto for an international digital mental health network | • The international network for digital mental health (IDMHN): work for implementation of digital technologies in MH services like DocuMental: a clinical decision support system (DSS) for MH service staff including physician, nurses, health care managers and coordinators • i-PROACH: a cloud based intelligent platform for research, outcome, assessment and care in mental health utilizing DSS, algorithm on generic data, digital phenotyping, and artificial intelligence | • Diagnostic module: digitized structured ICD-10 diagnostic criteria liked with DSS algorithms for increased accuracy and allow verification and differentiation. • Treatment module: linked to DSS algorithms for medication and treatment plan selection which can help in planning treatment in a standardized manner and to avoid mistreatment • History and routine assessment modules: for comprehensive and standardized assessments | Such novel interventions/algorithm have potential to address the current mental health needs especially by making it more transparent, personalized, standardized, more proactive and responsive for collaboration with other specialties and organizations. | This type of model may be best suited for HICs at the same time implementation in LMICs need to be assessed |
• Antonova et al. ( ) • Coping With COVID-19: Mindfulness-Based Approaches for Mitigating Mental Health Crisis | Type of article - Viewpoint | Various interventions that have utilized mindfulness skills like observing, non-judging, non-reacting, acting with awareness, and describing such as NHS's Mind app, Headspace (teaching meditation a website or a phone application) | Help healthcare personnel to cope with excessive anxiety, panic, and exhaustion while fulfilling their duties and responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic | Such novel interventions based on the mindfulness practices can help individuals to cope with the difficulties posed by major life events such as pandemic. |
a/w, associated with; A-V, audio-visual; b/w, between; CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; CES-Dep., Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale; CG, control group; FU, follow-up; GAD, generalized anxiety disorders-7; IA, intervention arm; HCWs, Health Care Workers; LMIC, low and middle-income countries; MDD, major depressive disorders; mgt, management; MH, mental health; MHP, mental health professional; MINI, mini neuropsychiatric interview; NNT, number needed to treat; PHQ-9, patient health questionnaire; TAU, treatment as usual .
Furthermore, school/educational institutes-based interventions such as school-Mental Health Magazines to increase mental health literacy among the teachers and students have been developed ( 80 ). In addition, workplace mental health promotional activities have targeted the administrators, e.g., guided “e-learning” for the managers that have shown to decrease the mental health problems of the employees ( 102 ).
Likewise, digital technologies have also been harnessed in strengthening community mental health promotive/preventive services, such as the mental health first aid (MHFA) Books on Prescription initiative in New Zealand provided information and self-help tools through library networks and trained book “prescribers,” particularly in rural and remote areas ( 103 ).
Apart from the common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders in the childhood/adolescents, novel interventions have been utilized to prevent the development of or management of medical, including preventing premature mortality and psychological issues among the individuals with severe mental illnesses (SMIs), e.g., Lets' talk about tobacco-web based intervention and motivational interviewing to prevent tobacco use, weight reduction measures, and promotion of healthy lifestyles (exercise, sleep, and balanced diets) through individualized devices, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disorders ( 83 ). Similarly, efforts have been made to improve such individuals' coping skills and employment chances through the WorkingWell mobile application in the US ( 104 ).
Apart from the digital-based interventions, newer, non-digital-based interventions have also been utilized to promote mental health and prevent mental disorders among individuals with chronic medical conditions. One such approach in adventure therapy aims to support and strengthen the multi-dimensional aspects of self. It includes the physical, emotional or cognitive, social, spiritual, psychological, or developmental rehabilitation of the children and adolescents with cancer. Moreover, it is delivered in the natural environment outside the hospital premises, shifting the focus from the illness model to the wellness model ( 81 ). Another strength of this intervention is it can be delivered by the nurses and facilitate peer support and teamwork.
Another novel approach to MH prevention is gut-microbiota and dietary interventions. Such interventions have been explored with promising results for the early developmental disorders (Attention deficit hyperactive disorder, Autism spectrum disorders, etc.) ( 105 ). It works under the framework of the shared vulnerability model for common mental disorders and other non-communicable diseases and harnesses the neuroplasticity potential of the developing brain. Dietary and lifestyle modifications have been recommended for major depressive disorders by the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Australia ( 106 ). As most childhood mental and physical disorders are determined at the level of the in-utero and early after the birth period, targeting maternal nutrition is another vital strategy. The utility has been expanded from maternal nutrition to women of childbearing age. The various novel mental health promotion and prevention strategies are shown in Table 2 .
Newer research is emerging that has utilized the digital platform for training non-specialists in diagnosis and managing individuals with mental health problems, such as Atmiyata Intervention and The SMART MH Project in India, and The Allillanchu Project in Peru, to name a few ( 99 ). Such frameworks facilitate task-sharing by the non-specialist and help in reducing the treatment gap in these countries. Likewise, digital algorithms or decision support systems have been developed to make mental health services more transparent, personalized, outcome-driven, collaborative, and integrative; one such example is DocuMental, a clinical decision support system (DSS). Similarly, frameworks like i-PROACH, a cloud-based intelligent platform for research outcome assessment and care in mental health, have expanded the scope of the mental health support system, including promoting research in mental health ( 100 ). In addition, COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in wider dissemination of the applications based on the evidence-based psycho-social interventions such as National Health Service's (NHS's) Mind app and Headspace (teaching meditation via a website or a phone application) that have utilized mindfulness-based practices to address the psychological problems of the population ( 101 ).
Although novel interventions, particularly internet and mobile-based interventions (IMIs), are effective models for MH promotion and prevention, their cost-effectiveness requires further exploration. Moreover, their feasibility and acceptability in LMICs could be challenging. Some of these could be attributed to poor digital literacy, digital/network-related limitations, privacy issues, and society's preparedness to implement these interventions.
These interventions need to be customized and adapted according to local needs and context, for which implementation and evaluative research are warranted. In addition, the infusion of more human and financial resources for such activities is required. Some reports highlight that many of these interventions do not align with the preferences and use the pattern of the service utilizers. For instance, one explorative research on mental health app-based interventions targeting youth found that despite the burgeoning applications, they are not aligned with the youth's media preferences and learning patterns. They are less interactive, have fewer audio-visual displays, are not youth-specific, are less dynamic, and are a single touch app ( 107 ).
Furthermore, such novel interventions usually come with high costs. In low-resource settings where service utilizers have limited finances, their willingness to use such services may be doubtful. Moreover, insurance companies, including those in high-income countries (HICs), may not be willing to fund such novel interventions, which restricts the accessibility and availability of interventions.
Research points to the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating such novel interventions in routine services such as school, community, primary care, or settings, e.g., in low-resource settings, the resource persons like teachers, community health workers, and primary care physicians are already overburdened. Therefore, their willingness to take up additional tasks may raise skepticism. Moreover, the attitudinal barrier to moving from the traditional service delivery model to the novel methods may also impede.
Considering the low MH budget and less priority on the MH prevention and promotion activities in most low-resource settings, the uptake of such interventions in the public health framework may be lesser despite the latter's proven high cost-effectiveness. In contrast, policymakers may be more inclined to invest in the therapeutic aspects of MH.
Such interventions open avenues for personalized and precision medicine/health care vs. the traditional model of MH promotion and preventive interventions ( 108 , 109 ). For instance, multivariate prediction algorithms with methods of machine learning and incorporating biological research, such as genetics, may help in devising tailored, particularly for selected and indicated prevention, interventions for depression, suicide, relapse prevention, etc. ( 79 ). Therefore, more research in this area is warranted.
To be more clinically relevant, greater biological research in MH prevention is required to identify those at higher risk of developing given mental disorders due to the existing risk factors/prominent stress ( 110 ). For instance, researchers have utilized the transcriptional approach to identify a biological fingerprint for susceptibility (denoting abnormal early stress response) to develop post-traumatic stress disorders among the psychological trauma survivors by analyzing the expression of the Peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene expression profiles ( 111 ). Identifying such biological markers would help target at-risk individuals through tailored and intensive interventions as a form of selected prevention.
Similarly, such novel interventions can help in targeting the underlying risk such as substance use, poor stress management, family history, personality traits, etc. and protective factors, e.g., positive coping techniques, social support, resilience, etc., that influences the given MH outcome ( 79 ). Therefore, again, it opens the scope of tailored interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all model of selective and indicated prevention for various MH conditions.
Furthermore, such interventions can be more accessible for the hard-to-reach populations and those with significant mental health stigma. Finally, they play a huge role in ensuring the continuity of care, particularly when community-based MH services are either limited or not available. For instance, IMIs can maintain the improvement of symptoms among individuals previously managed in-patient, such as for suicide, SUDs, etc., or receive intensive treatment like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for depression or anxiety, thereby helping relapse prevention ( 86 , 112 ). Hence, such modules need to be developed and tested in low-resource settings.
IMIs (and other novel interventions) being less stigmatizing and easily accessible, provide a platform to engage individuals with chronic medical problems, e.g., epilepsy, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc., and non-mental health professionals, thereby making it more relevant and appealing for them.
Lastly, research on prevention-interventions needs to be more robust to adjust for the pre-intervention matching, high attrition rate, studying the characteristics of treatment completers vs. dropouts, and utilizing the intention-to-treat analysis to gauge the effect of such novel interventions ( 78 ).
Although there is growing research on the effectiveness and utility of mental health promotion/prevention interventions across the lifespan and settings, low-resource settings suffer from specific limitations that restrict the full realization of such public health strategies, including implementing the novel intervention. To overcome these challenges, some of the potential solutions/recommendations are as follows:
Clinicians, researchers, public health experts, and policymakers have increasingly realized mental health promotion and prevention. Investment in Preventive psychiatry appears to be essential considering the substantial burden of mental and neurological disorders and the significant treatment gap. Literature suggests that MH promotive and preventive interventions are feasible and effective across the lifespan and settings. Moreover, various novel interventions (e.g., internet-and mobile-based interventions, new therapies) have been developed worldwide and proven effective for mental health promotion and prevention; such interventions are limited mainly to HICs.
Despite the significance of preventive psychiatry in the current world and having a wide-ranging implication for the wellbeing of society and individuals, including those suffering from chronic medical problems, it is a poorly utilized public health field to address the population's mental health needs. Lately, researchers and policymakers have realized the untapped potentialities of preventive psychiatry. However, its implementation in low-resource settings is still in infancy and marred by several challenges. The utilization of novel interventions, such as digital-based interventions, and blended and stepped-care models of care, can address the enormous mental health need of the population. Additionally, it provides mental health services in a less-stigmatizing and easily accessible, and flexible manner. More research concerning this is required from the LMICs.
VS, AK, and SG: methodology, literature search, manuscript preparation, and manuscript review. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.898009/full#supplementary-material
Feature stories
At any one time, a diverse set of individual, family, community and structural factors may combine to protect or undermine mental health. Although most people are resilient, people who are exposed to adverse circumstances – including poverty, violence, disability and inequality – are at higher risk of developing a mental health condition.
Mental health conditions include mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities as well as other mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning or risk of self-harm.
In 2019, 970 million people globally were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression the most common.
Mental health conditions can cause difficulties in all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends and community. They can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.
Globally, mental disorders account for 1 in 6 years lived with disability. People with severe mental health conditions die 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population. And having a mental health condition increases the risk of suicide and experiencing human rights violations.
The economic consequences of mental health conditions are also enormous, with productivity losses significantly outstripping the direct costs of care.
WHO’s World mental health report: transforming mental health for all called on all countries to accelerate progress towards implementing the action plan by deepening the value given to mental health, prioritizing mental health promotion and prevention, and developing networks of community-based services.
In 2019, WHO launched the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (2019–2023): Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health to ensure access to quality and affordable mental health care for 100 million more people in 12 priority countries. WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) similarly aims to scale up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Jujuy in Argentina strengthens community mental health work
Protecting health and care workers’ mental health and well-being: Technical Consultation Meeting
Enhancing Global Health and Well-Being: WHO and the Netherlands strengthen their Partnership
Over 1 in 3 people affected by neurological conditions, the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide
Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability globally and access to essential medicines for neurological disorders remains a critical global...
The burden of mental health conditions in the Region is high and actions are being taken by WHO to address this issue. These include the PARO Declaration...
In 2022, the Member States of WHO South-East Asia Region committed to promote and facilitate access to community-based mental health services through the...
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions have a profound impact on societies, communities and individuals around the world. Their risk...
Advocating for national suicide prevention strategies
Strengthening surveillance of suicide and self-harm
Monitoring and sharing suicide data and statistics
Promoting rights-based policy & law for mental health
Ensuring a coordinated and effective mental health response in emergencies
Scaling up care for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders: mhGAP
Improving the mental and brain health of children and adolescents
Suicide prevention in Thailand: A whole-of-society approach
Suicide prevention in Suriname: strengthening multisectoral collaboration
Suicide prevention in Japan: a public health priority
Scaling up suicide prevention in Nepal: a collaborative effort
World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 - Changing the narrative on suicide
International dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health
By the SIDS, for the SIDS: Next decade of action on NCDs and mental health
Related health topics
Suicide prevention
The Department of Mental Health covers a wide array of topics related to mental health, mental illness, and substance abuse. We emphasize ongoing research that enriches and stimulates the teaching programs. All students and fellows are encouraged to participate in at least one research group. Faculty and students from multiple disciplines work together within and across several major research areas:
Faculty are working to understand the distribution, causes and consequences of autism and developmental disabilities as well as the impact of public health policy on children and families.
Global Mental Health faculty develop, implement and evaluate measures and interventions to assess and meet mental health needs of communities around the world, with a focus on developing nations.
Faculty in the Mental Health and Aging Research Area conduct observational and intervention research aimed at enhancing cognitive and mental well being in older adults.
Understanding how mental health evolves as a result of this serious global pandemic will inform prevention and treatment strategies moving forward.
At the Bloomberg School of Public Health, which houses the only department of mental health in a school of public health, we have a unique ability to define both the problems and potential solutions.
Faculty in this area study mental health and behavioral health services and supports in communities, educational institutions and employment settings. They aim to reduce risk, and provide effective long-term treatment.
The Methods program area develops and applies innovative qualitative and quantitative methods for public mental health research, with a focus on statistical methods and economic models.
The Prevention Research faculty develop, test, refine and bring to scale prevention programs directed at a range of mental health and behavioral problems in children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.
Faculty in this area research genetic factors and how they interact with the physical and social environment to affect the risk for mental disorders.
Faculty in this area study the occurrence and distribution of mental and behavioral disorders across people, space and time, and examine the causes to develop support and treatment strategies.
The Department of Mental Health views the education and schools as a key public health context. Multiple faculty members partner with local school systems to develop, refine, and test preventive interventions for school-aged children and aim to promote mental health as well as positive social, emotional, and behavioral development.
Social Determinants of Mental & Behavioral Health Area emphasizes the role of multilevel social and structural factors in shaping mental and behavioral health, such as stigma, social networks, structural racism and policies on housing, drug control, and criminal justice domestically and internationally.
Faculty in this area study the etiology and natural history of substance use, and develop and evaluate interventions to prevent and control substance use disorders.
The Department of Mental Health has projects focused on various aspects of violence such as suicide, intimate partner violence , and youth violence. Faculty and students from multiple disciplines work together within and across several major research areas.
The department houses several school-based centers, and has a significant role in many others across the school. These are described below. Centers help bring together faculty, students, and community partners across multiple departments and schools to meet their particular missions in pursuit of improving public mental health.
The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Mental Health Measurement Working Group developed key questions to add to existing large domestic and international surveys to measure the mental health impact of the pandemic.
IMAGES
COMMENTS
PLOS Mental Health is an inclusive journal addressing challenges and gaps in the field of mental health research, treatment, and care in ways that put the lived experience of individuals and communities first.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders, supporting research that aims to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research.
Scope of Mental Health Promotion and Prevention in the Current Situation. Literature provides considerable evidence on the effectiveness of various preventive mental health interventions targeting risk and protective factors for various mental illnesses (18, 36 – 42).
Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It has intrinsic and instrumental value and is integral to our well-being.
The Department of Mental Health covers a wide array of topics related to mental health, mental illness, and substance abuse. We emphasize ongoing research that enriches and stimulates the teaching programs.
A recent review of psychological sequelae in samples of quarantined people and of health care providers may be instructive; it revealed numerous emotional outcomes, including stress, depression,...