Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case
The uneven distribution of mental health resources contributes to the burden of mental disorders in vulnerable groups, especially in developing countries. Internet-based interventions and digital technologies can contribute to reducing the gap between high prevalence of mental disorders, demand for...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00391/full |
| _version_ | 1818043366328238080 |
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| author | Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Vania Martínez Vania Martínez Vania Martínez Pablo Martínez Pablo Martínez Pablo Martínez Pamela Franco Pamela Franco Álvaro Jiménez-Molina Álvaro Jiménez-Molina Álvaro Jiménez-Molina |
| author_facet | Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Vania Martínez Vania Martínez Vania Martínez Pablo Martínez Pablo Martínez Pablo Martínez Pamela Franco Pamela Franco Álvaro Jiménez-Molina Álvaro Jiménez-Molina Álvaro Jiménez-Molina |
| author_sort | Graciela Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The uneven distribution of mental health resources contributes to the burden of mental disorders in vulnerable groups, especially in developing countries. Internet-based interventions and digital technologies can contribute to reducing the gap between high prevalence of mental disorders, demand for treatment, and access to mental health care, thereby reducing inequities in mental health. This mini review summarizes the current state of the field of e-mental health research in Chile, showing its progress, limitations, and challenges. Internet-based interventions are at an early stage of development in Chile. The interventions included are heterogeneous in terms of participants (e.g., secondary students, patients, healthcare professionals) and contexts (e.g., rural, urban, schools, primary health care), aims, and modalities (e.g., website, online games). While these studies confirmed the feasibility of Internet-based interventions, the shortage of studies on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness makes it difficult to disseminate and scale up these Internet-based programs. However, the growing amount of knowledge accumulated in the Chilean context could guide practices in other developing countries for supporting the mental health of underserved populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:01:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c50adf0e75d947ca99ef255a27a9a2d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:01:04Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c50adf0e75d947ca99ef255a27a9a2d42022-12-22T01:55:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652019-12-01710.3389/fpubh.2019.00391463908Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean CaseGraciela Rojas0Graciela Rojas1Graciela Rojas2Graciela Rojas3Vania Martínez4Vania Martínez5Vania Martínez6Pablo Martínez7Pablo Martínez8Pablo Martínez9Pamela Franco10Pamela Franco11Álvaro Jiménez-Molina12Álvaro Jiménez-Molina13Álvaro Jiménez-Molina14Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileMillennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths (Imhay), Santiago, ChileMillennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago, ChileMillennium Nucleus in Social Development (DESOC), Santiago, ChileMillennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths (Imhay), Santiago, ChileMillennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago, ChileCentro de Medicina Reproductiva y Desarrollo Integral del Adolescente (CEMERA), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileHospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, ChileMillennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths (Imhay), Santiago, ChileMillennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago, ChileMillennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago, ChileDoctoral Program in Psychotherapy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, ChileMillennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths (Imhay), Santiago, ChileMillennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago, ChileMillennium Nucleus in Social Development (DESOC), Santiago, ChileThe uneven distribution of mental health resources contributes to the burden of mental disorders in vulnerable groups, especially in developing countries. Internet-based interventions and digital technologies can contribute to reducing the gap between high prevalence of mental disorders, demand for treatment, and access to mental health care, thereby reducing inequities in mental health. This mini review summarizes the current state of the field of e-mental health research in Chile, showing its progress, limitations, and challenges. Internet-based interventions are at an early stage of development in Chile. The interventions included are heterogeneous in terms of participants (e.g., secondary students, patients, healthcare professionals) and contexts (e.g., rural, urban, schools, primary health care), aims, and modalities (e.g., website, online games). While these studies confirmed the feasibility of Internet-based interventions, the shortage of studies on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness makes it difficult to disseminate and scale up these Internet-based programs. However, the growing amount of knowledge accumulated in the Chilean context could guide practices in other developing countries for supporting the mental health of underserved populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00391/fulltelemedicinee-mental healthInternetdigital technologiesprimary health caredeveloping countries |
| spellingShingle | Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Graciela Rojas Vania Martínez Vania Martínez Vania Martínez Pablo Martínez Pablo Martínez Pablo Martínez Pamela Franco Pamela Franco Álvaro Jiménez-Molina Álvaro Jiménez-Molina Álvaro Jiménez-Molina Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case Frontiers in Public Health telemedicine e-mental health Internet digital technologies primary health care developing countries |
| title | Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case |
| title_full | Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case |
| title_fullStr | Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case |
| title_short | Improving Mental Health Care in Developing Countries Through Digital Technologies: A Mini Narrative Review of the Chilean Case |
| title_sort | improving mental health care in developing countries through digital technologies a mini narrative review of the chilean case |
| topic | telemedicine e-mental health Internet digital technologies primary health care developing countries |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00391/full |
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