World Mental Health Day 2020: Making Mental Health A Reality For All

Elsevier, 25th September 2020

World Mental Health Day, a programme of the World Federation for Mental Health, has been observed on October 10th since 1992

The world is experiencing the unprecedented impact of the current global health emergency due to COVID-19 that has also impacted on the mental health of millions of people. We know that the levels of anxiety, fear, isolation, social distancing and restrictions, uncertainty and emotional distress experienced have become widespread as the world struggles to bring the virus under control and to find solutions. The current worldwide pandemic arose against an already dire mental health landscape that saw mental health conditions on the rise across the globe.

About 450 million people live with mental disorders that are among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide (WHO’s World Health Report, 2001). One person in every four will be affected by a mental disorder at some stage of their lives while mental, neurological and substance use disorders exact a high toll on health outcomes, accounting for 13% of the total global burden of disease (WHO, 2012). The World Health Organization (2018) states that every 40 seconds someone dies by suicide. Annually, this represents over 800 000 people that die by suicide, which is more than people dying by war and homicide put together.

Mental health is a human right and it is time that mental health is available for all. Quality, accessible primary health care is the foundation for universal health coverage and is urgently required as the world grapples with the current health emergency.

To mark World Mental Health Day 2020, Elsevier presents a curated, open access collection of 25 journal articles and book chapters focused on making mental health a reality for everyone, everywhere. The time for action is now.

Table of contents

Elsevier, Psychiatry Research, Volume 291, September 2020
While the number of medical human rights programs has increased, there is substantial unmet need for forensic evaluations among asylum seekers throughout the United States. From September 2019 through May 2020, the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program has coordinated pro bono forensic mental health evaluations by telephone or video for individuals seeking protected immigration status who are unable to access in-person services. The national network clinicians conducted 32 forensic evaluations of individuals in eight U.S. states and Mexico seeking immigration relief.
Elsevier, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Volume 214, 1 September 2020
Background: Alcohol use disorder is a highly prevalent disease with multiple medications available for treatment. The overall prevalence of patients receiving pharmacotherapy is believed to be low and the characteristics and comorbidities that affect receipt are not well-established. Methods: We created a dataset from Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database of patients with an outpatient encounter for alcohol abuse or dependence in 2014.
Elsevier, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Volume 136, September 2020
Objective: Mental health and cognitive difficulties are highly prevalent across neurological disorders and significantly contribute to poorer patient outcomes. Unfortunately, access to effective psychological services for these comorbidities are limited. To determine whether a novel transdiagnostic internet-delivered psychological intervention, the Wellbeing Neuro Course, was feasible, acceptable and efficacious a single-group feasibility open trial was employed. Methods: The Wellbeing Neuro Course, targets mental health and cognitive difficulties, across a variety of neurological disorders.
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Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume 234, July 2018

Background: The relative importance of individual and country-level factors influencing access to diagnosis and treatment for depression across the world is fairly unknown. Methods: We analysed cross-national data from the WHO World Health Surveys. Depression diagnosis and access to health care were ascertained using a structured interview. Logistic Bayesian Multilevel analyses were performed to establish individual and country level factors associated with: (1) receiving a diagnosis and (2) accessing treatment for depression if a diagnosis was ascertained.

Elsevier, Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 22, 1 August 2016
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been demonstrated to be an effective intervention in outpatient and inpatient settings for a wide range of presenting mental health problems including depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post traumatic Stress Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Somatorform Disorder. There is likely to be an unmet need for this therapeutic approach in most Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC).
Elsevier, Asian Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 51, June 2020
At the start of 2020, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), originating from China has spread to the world. There have been increasing numbers of confirmed cases and deaths around the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic has paved the way for considerable psychological and psychosocial morbidity among the general public and health care providers. An array of guidelines has been put forward by multiple agencies for combating mental health challenges. This paper addresses some of the mental health challenges faced by low and middle income countries (LMIC).
Elsevier, Psychiatry Research, Volume 272, February 2019
Black ethnicity is associated with increased risk for psychosis in South London. This study explored the distribution of ethnicity among services users at ultra high risk for psychosis (UHR) and examined the influence of ethnicity on service access, treatment uptake and incidence of psychosis. The ethnic distribution of 228 people at UHR for psychosis, seen in an early detection clinical service over 10 years, was compared with 146 people with first episode psychosis from the same geographic region and census figures for the local population.
Elsevier, American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Volume 28, October 2020
Objective: To examine the psychological distress and the associated predictor factors of the 2019 corona-virus disease (COVID-19) on survivors in the early convalescence in Shenzhen. Method: A survey questionnaire consisting of post-traumatic stress disorder self-rating scale (PTSD-SS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was presented to COVID-19 survivors still in quarantine. Scores of each scale and subscale were dependent variables in the Mann-Whitney test and stepwise regression analysis.
Elsevier, Psychosomatics, Volume 61, 1 November 2020
Background: Coronovirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) first broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in 2019, and now it spreads in more than 100 countries around the world. On January 30th, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. It was classified as a pandemic by the WHO on March 11, 2020. With the increase in the number of cases reported by various countries every day, the COVID-19 pandemic has attracted more and more attention around the world.
Elsevier, Psychosomatics, Volume 61, September - October 2020
Background: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put an enormous stress on the mental health of frontline health care workers. Objective: Psychiatry departments in medical centers need to develop support systems to help our colleagues cope with this stress.
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Positive Mental Health, Fighting Stigma and Promoting Resiliency for Children and Adolescents, 2016, Pages 173-184

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by discussing how to transform the culture for mental healthcare access for young people.
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Community Mental Health Engagement with Racially Diverse Populations, 2020, Pages 113-132

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by exploring a faith-based mental health promotion (FBMHP) programme.
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Community Mental Health Engagement with Racially Diverse Populations, 2020, Pages 15-48

This chapter addresses SDGs 3 and 10 by addressing the disparities existing in mental healthcare in the US Latinx population.
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Adolescent Addiction (Second Edition), Epidemiology, Assessment, and Treatment, Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional, 2020, Pages 215-240

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by discussing smartphone addiction in adolescents.
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Autism 360°, 2020, Pages 269-276

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by discussing early interventions for autistic children via a mobile service system.
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Systems Neuroscience in Depression, 2016, Pages 29-77

This chapter addresses SDG 3 by discussing the mechanisms behind early life stress being a risk factor for depression.
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Handbook of Mental Health and Aging (Third Edition), 2020, Pages 401-415

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by examining technology-based mental health services for the geriatric population.
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Starting At the Beginning, Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Mental Health, 2020, Pages 239-272

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by discussing child-relevant mental health policies.
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Global Mental Health and Psychotherapy, Adapting Psychotherapy for Low- and Middle-Income Countries, Global Mental Health in Practice, 2019, Pages 87-126

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by exploring the use of cognitive behavioral therapy to treat mental health needs in low and middle income countries.
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Technology and Health, Promoting Attitude and Behavior Change, 2020, Pages 129-148

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by examining clinical virtual reality interventions which can help individuals suffering from mental health disorders.
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Starting At the Beginning, Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Mental Health, 2020, Pages 31-42

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by exploring stressors that adversely affect healthy cultural identification and adjustment in children causing mental health disparities.
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Understanding Uniqueness and Diversity in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2018, Pages 263-287

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by exploring the use of telepsychiatry to make child and adolescent mental health care more accessible in low-and middle-income countries.
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Understanding Uniqueness and Diversity in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2018, Pages 115-134

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by discussing anxiety disorders in young people from a cross-cultural perspective.
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Handbook of Mental Health and Aging (Third Edition), 2020, Pages 121-134

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by examining late-life anxiety in older adults.
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Mental and Behavioral Health of Immigrants in the United States, Cultural, Environmental, and Structural Factors, 2020, Pages 157-178

This chapter addresses Goal 3 by examining the mental health of immigrants in the United States.