Redefining public health: investing in mental health. Mental health is public health, but for too long, it’s been sidelined, stigmatized, and underfunded. With nearly 1 in 8 people worldwide living with a mental health disorder, it’s clear that we must bring mental well-being to the forefront of the public health agenda. Investing in mental health isn’t just about increasing access to care—it’s about reshaping our communities to support psychological well-being, reducing stigma, and ensuring that mental health services are culturally and socially relevant to everyone. A few ways to tackle this: - Prevention over cure: we can make strides by investing in early intervention programs that focus on mental health education, school-based support, and community awareness initiatives. - Accessible and inclusive services: addressing inequities that make mental health services hard to reach, especially for marginalized communities, is key. Access should not depend on income or geography. - Community resilience: building strong, supportive networks where people feel safe to speak about their challenges can change the entire narrative around mental health. It’s time we recognize that there is no health without mental health. Let's prioritize it like the essential aspect of public health that it is. What are your thoughts on integrating mental health into our broader public health strategies? #publichealth #mentalhealth #healthequity #wellbeing #communityhealth

In addressing the complex challenges facing contemporary youth, such as mental health issues and societal pressures, a holistic approach is crucial. Key stakeholders like parents, educational institutions, and government bodies must collaborate to enhance mental health support, strengthen family and community bonds, and provide tailored education and career guidance. Organizations and international institutions play a vital role in implementing policies for work-life balance and economic stability. This comprehensive strategy supports the younger generation's development, ensuring a resilient and productive society. #YouthChallenges #MentalHealth #FamilySupport #EducationalReform #PolicyIntervention @InternationalOrganizations @GovernmentInstitutions

They really should give me prescribing powers. Not literally, philosophically. Mental health is in crisis, especially among our youth. 42% of students report feeling persistently sad or hopeless. 21% of adults experienced mental illness in 2020. But don't worry; I have a prescription for the country. You ready? 👨👩👧👦 Use social policies to strengthen our safety net. Reduce the gap between the rich and the poor; ensure that the future looks bright for every person, even those from lower socioeconomic statuses. That means strong employment laws, paid parental leave, and anything else that can lift the stress on families. Chronic stress makes minds more susceptible to mental illness. 🧠 Universal mental healthcare. Mental health care shouldn't be tied to employment. Anyone and everyone should have access whenever they need it. Especially if we're going to blame school shootings on it. 💰 Address the mental health clinician shortage. We need to pay therapists what they're worth and make it easier for them to get licensed and trained. That means offering education support and increasing wages to attract and retain the best talent. By investing in our mental health professionals, we can ensure that everyone has access to quality care when they need it most. 🏡 Embed trained community therapists in every neighborhood. These therapists are not only responsible for addressing mental health issues, but also for building strong relationships within the community, preventing crises before they occur, and providing brief counseling to those who need it. By establishing trust and rapport with community members, they can better understand their unique needs and tailor interventions to meet them. ✨ Reject the idea that our worth is tied to our financial success. The truth is that our worth is inherent. We are valuable simply because we exist, and nothing can ever change that. Our true significance is found in the connections we make, the love we give and receive, and the way we show up for ourselves and others. It's found in the moments of vulnerability and courage, in the way we learn from our mistakes, and in the way we strive to be better. 🤝 Learn to love our neighbors. This can't be implemented via policy, but it's an essential part of my treatment plan. We need to lean into our communities. We need to view our neighbors- yes, even those who disagree with us or who have different lifestyles- as equally important as ourselves. I think I'm gonna need a bigger prescription pad... #mentalhealth #community #change

🌍👵👴Discover a new framework for enhancing older adult mental health, aligning with WHO's Decade of Healthy Ageing goals. Transform communities and healthcare! #HealthyAgeing #MentalHealth 🌐Read more: https://lnkd.in/dQXyxy5c The aim of the work was to develop a framework building on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing to inform efforts across community and healthcare domains to optimize the mental health of older adults in support of healthy aging. The paper identifies barriers, facilitators, and strategies for action at social/system; services/supports and personal/older adult-levels of influence. It is intended as a tool to inform planning and decision-making across policy, practice, education and training, research, and knowledge mobilization arenas.

Our latest research highlights the significant barriers that low-income families face in accessing specialized mental health services for children and adolescents, despite Australia's promise of universal health coverage. We found that children from low-income families are less likely to receive psychological therapy for anxiety and depression, primarily due to high out-of-pocket costs for clinical psychologists. This demonstrates how financial obstacles can prevent children from receiving the care they need, further widening the socioeconomic gap. This underscores the urgent need for policy interventions to remove financial barriers and ensure equitable mental healthcare access for all children. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/g9tanwJX #MentalHealth #HealthcareEquity #ChildHealth #HealthPolicy Nicole Black David Johnston Trong-Anh Trinh

Join the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and AMCHP on April 8th at 2pm ET for a virtual learning session focused on infant mental health. During the webinar, attendees will hear from experts in the field and explore innovative programs, policies, research, and/or practices in infant mental health. Speakers will discuss the role community partners, caregivers, social determinants of health, and state health agencies play in promoting the #MentalHealth of infants and young children. Register at: bit.ly/3PG4I5P #InfantMentalHealth #ChildMentalHealth #PublicHealth #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #HealthPolicy #MentalHealthMatters

Teachers shape our future, yet they’re not immune to challenges like substance use disorder (SUD). SUD among educators is a pressing concern that mirrors wider societal issues. Recognizing SUD as a health condition, not a failure, is crucial. What We Can Do: • Raise Awareness: Educate about SUD signs and support early intervention. • Supportive Policies: Implement confidential treatment and recovery programs. • Open Dialogue: Foster a culture where teachers can discuss their struggles without fear. • Access to Resources: Provide counseling, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and wellness initiatives. • Systemic Change: Advocate for policies that support mental health and substance use treatment. Supporting our educators’ well-being is essential for a healthier educational environment. Let’s work together to ensure teachers receive the compassionate support they deserve. #Education #TeacherWellbeing #MentalHealthAwareness #SupportEducators

RESHAPE Study: Key Takeaways on Service Access https://bit.ly/3JfIQuq In this fantastic podcast exploring the service access findings from the RESHAPE study, Professor Tamsin Newlove-Delgado, Franki Mathews, and Dr. Kate Allen provide insight into the experiences of commissioners of child mental health services with regards to commissioning services and the challenges they faced. Listen now to learn more. https://bit.ly/3JfIQuq RESHAPE or ‘REflecting on the impactS of covid-19 on cHildren And young People in England: exploring experiences of lockdown, service access and education’ is a large study looking at how life changed for children, young people, and parents during the lockdown and how this may have affected them. This is a follow-on study from the National Study of Health and Wellbeing: Children and Young people and is a joint effort between the University of Exeter, the University of Cambridge, King’s College London and the NHS. #CAMH #CAMHS #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Research #Science #ListenLearnLike #ServiceAccess #COVID #COVID19 #Pandemic

RESHAPE Study: Key Takeaways on Service Access https://bit.ly/3JfIQuq In this fantastic podcast exploring the service access findings from the RESHAPE study, Professor Tamsin Newlove-Delgado, Franki Mathews, and Dr. Kate Allen provide insight into the experiences of commissioners of child mental health services with regards to commissioning services and the challenges they faced. Listen now to learn more. https://bit.ly/3JfIQuq RESHAPE or ‘REflecting on the impactS of covid-19 on cHildren And young People in England: exploring experiences of lockdown, service access and education’ is a large study looking at how life changed for children, young people, and parents during the lockdown and how this may have affected them. This is a follow-on study from the National Study of Health and Wellbeing: Children and Young people and is a joint effort between the University of Exeter, the University of Cambridge, King’s College London and the NHS. #CAMH #CAMHS #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Research #Science #ListenLearnLike #ServiceAccess #COVID #COVID19 #Pandemic

RESHAPE Study: Key Takeaways on Service Access https://bit.ly/3JfIQuq In this fantastic podcast exploring the service access findings from the RESHAPE study, Professor Tamsin Newlove-Delgado, Franki Mathews, and Dr. Kate Allen provide insight into the experiences of commissioners of child mental health services with regards to commissioning services and the challenges they faced. Listen now to learn more. https://bit.ly/3JfIQuq RESHAPE or ‘REflecting on the impactS of covid-19 on cHildren And young People in England: exploring experiences of lockdown, service access and education’ is a large study looking at how life changed for children, young people, and parents during the lockdown and how this may have affected them. This is a follow-on study from the National Study of Health and Wellbeing: Children and Young people and is a joint effort between the University of Exeter, the University of Cambridge, King’s College London and the NHS. #CAMH #CAMHS #Wellbeing #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Research #Science #ListenLearnLike #ServiceAccess #COVID #COVID19 #Pandemic