It is well known that physical and mental health are closely related, with growing evidence for biological and behavioural pathways. A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological interventions to improve mental wellbeing. While the evidence requires further advancement, the review provides insight into how psychological interventions can be designed to improve mental wellbeing. Another study found that online disclosures about mental illness appeared beneficial as reflected by fewer posts about symptoms following self-disclosure (Ernala et al. 2017). Several studies have also demonstrated that when compared with a control group, Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia show unique online communication patterns (Birnbaum et al. 2017a), including more frequent discussion of tobacco use (Hswen et al. 2017), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hswen et al. 2018b), and suicide (Hswen et al. 2018a).
Higher levels of well-being have numerous favorable effects, including enhanced educational achievements, adoption of healthier lifestyles, and a decrease in risky behaviors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and substance abuse. The relationship between well-being and mental health problems is interrelated. A comprehensive understanding of mental health and well-being necessitates a detailed exploration of the various determinants that influence both individual well-being and societal outcomes, as highlighted in the preceding discussion.
Community Case Studies: Mental Health and Neglected Tropical Diseases
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). Indicated preventive interventions focus on high-risk individuals who have developed minor but observable signs or symptoms of mental disorder or genetic risk factors for mental illness. The benefits are not restricted to reduction or delay in the onset of illness but also in terms of severity or duration of illness (48).On the spectrum of mental health interventions, universal preventive interventions are directed at the whole population without identifiable risk factors. There is also modest evidence of the effectiveness of programs focusing on early identification and intervention for severe mental diseases (e.g., schizophrenia and psychotic illness, and bipolar affective disorders) as well as common mental disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression, stress-related disorders) (43–46).
Passive audio data collection on mobile phones (e.g., episodic recording of the auditory environment without requiring any active input from the phone user) enables new opportunities to understand the social environment (Poudyal et al.). Researchers from Taiwan investigated this question in depth, analyzing sample of SIRC implementation research webinars older adults was recruited from a nationally representative multiple-wave study, the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging. Specifically, air pollution has a significant positive impact on depression (Hu et al.).
- Acute trauma affects adversely physical health as well as mental health, and this is widely evidenced in the literature (D’Andrea et al., 2011).
- Researchers from Kathmandu Institute of Child Health and The Australian National University, reflect on the potential unresolved trauma of young people in light of the current political climate in Nepal and across the globe.
- Public interest for mental health services mostly focus on industrialized or first world countries, less so on developing countries.
- For instance, anxiety can cause difficulty falling asleep, while depression may lead to early waking or excessive sleep.
- For the review, the results of the most important studies on the psychoprotective effects of bioactive components contained in foods (vitamins, minerals, omega-3, and more).
- The almost exclusively biogenetic conceptual framework for understanding mental illness has acquired a hegemony that has influenced mental health practitioners while also influencing campaigns designed to improve public attitudes toward the mentally ill.
CONCEPT OF POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH
For example, Miller et al. (2007) found that cortisol levels for trauma exposed individuals were related to timing after the events, and that trauma events create both too much and too little cortisol, and then health outcomes related to both too much and too little cortisol. Chronic stresses, or physical shocks and trauma can alter body physiology including the endocrine system (McEwen & Wingfield, 2003). This in turn increases risks for health concerns such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases (Fadlon & Nielsen, 2019; Hoang et al., 2019; Margolis, 2013; Saxena et al., 2005). Mental and physical health goes hand in hand, and it is widely agreed that they can be interrelated. The authors thank colleagues at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Wellbeing and Resilience Centre, for their support during the creation of this review, S.
Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals
Most of the studies that we described were from the United States, as well as from other higher income settings such as Australia or the United Kingdom. Cyberbullying represents a form of online aggression directed towards specific individuals, such as peers or acquaintances, which is perceived to be most harmful when compared to random hostile comments posted online (Hamm et al., 2015). Yet, reported negative effects were an increased exposure to harm, social isolation, depressive symptoms and bullying (Best et al., 2014). Bauer et al. (2013) reported that the main interest in online self-help forums for patients with bipolar disorder was to share emotions with others, allow exchange of information, and benefit by being part of an online social group (Bauer, Bauer, Spiessl, & Kagerbauer, 2013).
