Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging the health care systems and public wellbeing unprecedentedly. The United Kingdom and Turkiye were the countries worst hit by the pandemic in the World Health Organization European region. Purpose: This review investigated the mental health...

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Main Author: Ekin Dagistan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2022-08-01
Series:Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://mhgcj.org/index.php/MHGCJ/article/view/141
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author Ekin Dagistan
author_facet Ekin Dagistan
author_sort Ekin Dagistan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging the health care systems and public wellbeing unprecedentedly. The United Kingdom and Turkiye were the countries worst hit by the pandemic in the World Health Organization European region. Purpose: This review investigated the mental health policies in these countries which draw a contrasting pattern of mental health care, sociodemographic background, and income level. Following the investigation, we recommended the possible directions to be pursued by European policymakers Methodology: The documents were picked from the health policy sections from the websites of international organizations (European Parliament, OECD, WHO, UN), online data and policy reports of national ministerial bodies, and general web search. Later, the papers were reviewed and the author identified the main concepts of the responses to discuss after policy review. The study was designed as a review; therefore, no statistical framework was conducted. Results: Identified concepts were as follows: a) continuing service provision for people with mental health conditions, b) digital mental health care interventions, c) building psychological resilience for citizens. Conclusions: A strategy only focusing on treating mental health conditions will not be sustainable during the post-pandemic era. It is essential to address mental health in all policies to foster a strong mental health care system
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spelling doaj.art-b435cedf33414eb3a92bbd64ee9c4d1a2024-03-03T06:58:12ZengSciendoMental Health: Global Challenges Journal2612-21382022-08-015210.56508/mhgcj.v5i2.141 Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health careEkin Dagistan0French School of Public Health (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique) Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging the health care systems and public wellbeing unprecedentedly. The United Kingdom and Turkiye were the countries worst hit by the pandemic in the World Health Organization European region. Purpose: This review investigated the mental health policies in these countries which draw a contrasting pattern of mental health care, sociodemographic background, and income level. Following the investigation, we recommended the possible directions to be pursued by European policymakers Methodology: The documents were picked from the health policy sections from the websites of international organizations (European Parliament, OECD, WHO, UN), online data and policy reports of national ministerial bodies, and general web search. Later, the papers were reviewed and the author identified the main concepts of the responses to discuss after policy review. The study was designed as a review; therefore, no statistical framework was conducted. Results: Identified concepts were as follows: a) continuing service provision for people with mental health conditions, b) digital mental health care interventions, c) building psychological resilience for citizens. Conclusions: A strategy only focusing on treating mental health conditions will not be sustainable during the post-pandemic era. It is essential to address mental health in all policies to foster a strong mental health care system https://mhgcj.org/index.php/MHGCJ/article/view/141Mental healthcarecovid-19mental health policypublic health
spellingShingle Ekin Dagistan
Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
Mental Health: Global Challenges Journal
Mental healthcare
covid-19
mental health policy
public health
title Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
title_full Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
title_fullStr Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
title_full_unstemmed Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
title_short Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
title_sort mental health policy reactions during the first year of the covid 19 pandemic in two worst hit who european countries a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care
topic Mental healthcare
covid-19
mental health policy
public health
url https://mhgcj.org/index.php/MHGCJ/article/view/141
work_keys_str_mv AT ekindagistan mentalhealthpolicyreactionsduringthefirstyearofthecovid19pandemicintwoworsthitwhoeuropeancountriesanarrativereviewandlessonsfortheaftermathofmentalhealthcare