{"title":"Advancing mental health in the Middle East: A Paradigm Shift","authors":"Fatemeh Mirzai, Zohreh Nasiri, Mahdi Naeim, Shima Imannezhad, Mohammadreza Javedani","doi":"10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104220","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mental health is a vital part of the bigger well-being picture in the Middle East, which faces specific challenges. In history, mental health has had a bad reputation and low access to services but this is changing as stakeholders are now promoting mental wellbeing. This literature review examines new ways to advance mental health in the Middle East. It explores cultural context, educates on mental health issues, integrates primary care and mental health services, uses technology for communication purposes, builds community support, and advocates for policy reform towards improved mental healthcare outcomes. A comprehensive review across all academic databases was published between 2018 and 2023 using search terms “mental health” and “Middle East”. The study highlights the importance of understanding cultural and social factors that contribute to people’s comprehension of their minds. Additionally, it suggests methods of raising awareness against stigma like digital platforms and community-based education among others. It also points out two measures: first, it indicates that integrating MHI into Primary Health Care (PHC) Systems increases accessibility; secondly, it proposes that a technology-supported personalized approach can be used to support individuals when needed. On this note, the paper underscores the necessity of utilizing local players within communities at large. The review puts a lot of stress on the significance of approaches that are community-based and involve all people living within an area. This review is very timely and comprehensive in its framework meant to improve mental health in the Middle East. The results could be useful in providing insights for devising appropriate culturally sensitive interventions aimed at promoting mental health in this region. In highlighting particular difficulties as well as possibilities, however, the review guides policy makers, healthcare practitioners, and societies aiming to improve their collective response to mental health problems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8543,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of psychiatry","volume":"101 ","pages":"Article 104220"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Asian journal of psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876201824003137","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Mental health is a vital part of the bigger well-being picture in the Middle East, which faces specific challenges. In history, mental health has had a bad reputation and low access to services but this is changing as stakeholders are now promoting mental wellbeing. This literature review examines new ways to advance mental health in the Middle East. It explores cultural context, educates on mental health issues, integrates primary care and mental health services, uses technology for communication purposes, builds community support, and advocates for policy reform towards improved mental healthcare outcomes. A comprehensive review across all academic databases was published between 2018 and 2023 using search terms “mental health” and “Middle East”. The study highlights the importance of understanding cultural and social factors that contribute to people’s comprehension of their minds. Additionally, it suggests methods of raising awareness against stigma like digital platforms and community-based education among others. It also points out two measures: first, it indicates that integrating MHI into Primary Health Care (PHC) Systems increases accessibility; secondly, it proposes that a technology-supported personalized approach can be used to support individuals when needed. On this note, the paper underscores the necessity of utilizing local players within communities at large. The review puts a lot of stress on the significance of approaches that are community-based and involve all people living within an area. This review is very timely and comprehensive in its framework meant to improve mental health in the Middle East. The results could be useful in providing insights for devising appropriate culturally sensitive interventions aimed at promoting mental health in this region. In highlighting particular difficulties as well as possibilities, however, the review guides policy makers, healthcare practitioners, and societies aiming to improve their collective response to mental health problems.
期刊介绍：
The Asian Journal of Psychiatry serves as a comprehensive resource for psychiatrists, mental health clinicians, neurologists, physicians, mental health students, and policymakers. Its goal is to facilitate the exchange of research findings and clinical practices between Asia and the global community. The journal focuses on psychiatric research relevant to Asia, covering preclinical, clinical, service system, and policy development topics. It also highlights the socio-cultural diversity of the region in relation to mental health.
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