Mental health for all: fostering healthy lifestyles.

Abstract

343 known, psychiatrists should be familiar with strategies known to improve coping, such as selfmanagement, mindfulness meditation, cognitive behavioural therapy, and supportive therapies. The burgeoning number of people needing psychiatric treatment because of the COVID19 pandemic has strained already in adequate mental health services. Access to mental health care has become more difficult, due to restrictive measures and the shortage of staff and other resources. Digital technologies have offered an immediate solution to continue delivering mental health treatment. Nevertheless, the lack of legal and ethical regulation, standardization and preparation has posed several challenges to the largescale application of telepsychiatry. Recognition of the opportunity to increase access to mental health care has led the WPA to develop global guidelines for telepsychiatry. Public health agencies’ commitment to increasing mental health awareness and selfhelp during the pandemic has also enhanced interest in other digital mental health interventions, such as those based on mobile apps, sensor data, social media, and virtual reality. The integration of these interventions into realworld clinical practice requires ongoing progress. Even as the pandemic fades, the psychological burdens of long COVID will create new needs for care. Furthermore, the easing of restrictions and the “return to the new normality” will require coping with new sourc es of stress. Governments, insurers and other funders should support increased re sourc es for mental health services, commen surate with the growth in demand for treat ment. Longerterm solutions, including a commitment to augmenting the mental health work force, are also needed. Our recommendations for action are the following: