It is essential for cognitive processes such IHS California Behavioral Health Resources as learning, memory, and neural plasticity, as it facilitates the transmission of signals between neurons. Vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and tomatoes, as well as fruits like bananas and citrus fruits, further support GABA production. Lifestyle factors such as regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep can naturally support norepinephrine balance, promoting mental clarity, emotional stability, and overall resilience .
A tailored approach to strengthening mental health systems
- Finally, the nature of the data allowed us to assess the current situation of MHPP implementation and evaluation but did not allow us to assess further barriers and facilitators.
- Preventive approaches to mental health are essential for promoting psychological well-being, reducing the incidence of mental health disorders, and enhancing overall quality of life.
- While studies included in the review often addressed in detail the posed research questions and assessment objectives, they rarely presented clearly their methods and lacked sufficient descriptions of tools used in the evaluation, thus making them hardly interpretable and reproducible in other research contexts.
- A large majority of countries included activities towards objective 2 (To provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings) and objective 3 (To implement strategies for the promotion and prevention of mental health).
MHPPs often lack comprehensiveness and specificity, leaving them at risk of remaining aspirational rather than actionable. Finally, nine countries did not set up or report any indicators or targets to be met. However, such indicators seldom touch upon hard-to-quantify outcomes in domains such as human rights or prevention and promotion.
This work contributes towards the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.4 on mental health and wellbeing. Around two of three people experiencing mental health conditions do not receive a treatment. The guidance also includes a roadmap to support governments in translating commitment into action. It calls for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that unites senior leaders and other actors and drivers across sectors, promotes collaboration, and ensures accountability and sustainable financing for mental health. The guidance sets out, for the first time, what different government sectors can do, individually and collaboratively, to promote and protect population-wide mental health and well-being. Learn more about Research Domain Criteria Initiative (RDoC), a research framework that supports new ways of studying mental disorders.
Guidance on mental health policy and strategic action plans: module 4: country case scenarios
This complements other EU actions to protect children in the digital world, including a prototype for an age-verification method designed to work across the EU. The European Commission is therefore conducting an EU-wide inquiry on the broader impacts of social media on well-being. In just 15 years, across the EU children aged 9 to 15 more than doubled the time they spend on screens and social media.
This lack of evaluation transparency may also be attributed to the opacity of the methods and tools employed to assess MHPP implementation (Aliev et al. Reference Aliev, Tomaskova, Winkler, Yon, Kagstrom, Guerrero, Lazeri, Reinap, Redlich, Tijerino Inestroza and Maurer2023). Another gap is the rare inclusion of provisions for the evaluation of the implementation of MHPPs. The specific, well-defined steps required to ensure the effective implementation of these policies are mostly absent, suggesting a great opportunity for enhancement in this area. MHPPs are important tools to facilitate improvements in mental health practices that are both urgently needed and long overdue (Jenkins Reference Jenkins2003). Evidence of the implementation of evaluation activities is also very scarce.
Data extraction
Accessing mental health care remains a significant challenge for many individuals, leading to unmet needs and exacerbated mental health issues. Preventive approaches to mental health are essential for fostering resilience, reducing the incidence of mental health disorders, and enhancing overall well-being. Telehealth options, including online therapy and virtual support groups, play a vital role in increasing accessibility, especially for individuals in remote or underserved areas who may have limited access to in-person care. Providing therapy and counseling services can help individuals manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges before they escalate.