Primary Prevention in Mental Health – Current Evidence and Future Directions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25752/psi.33677Keywords:
Primary prevention, Mental Disorders, PromotionAbstract
Background: Preventive interventions, including primary prevention, have been a part of medical practice since ancient times. Mental disorders represent a significant burden for patients, family and society, and existing treatments are still limited in reducing this debilitating outcome. Recently, increasing research has been published in primary prevention in mental health, gathering awareness for this therapeutic approach.
Aim: To review current evidence about primary prevention in psychiatry and to reflect about future directions.
Methods: Non-systematic literature review through PubMed database, searching articles published between January 2000 and July 2021. The keywords used were “primary prevention”, “mental disorders” and “promotion”. Articles were selected according to their relevance.
Results: Current evidence supports the efficacy of universal, selective and indicated prevention, as well as the promotion of mental health. These interventions were shown to be cost-effective and capable of shifting the debilitating trajectories of major mental disorders, usually associated with an elevated burden. Security and feasibility have been ensured in these investigations. Despite these encouraging results, clinical practice is still far from incorporating primary prevention in daily work. The goals of prevention can only be achieved with collaboration from different sectors and stakeholders, in a coordinated manner. Mental health professionals need to take part as advocates in this process and services must encourage research and interventions according to their framework of action. Child and adolescent psychiatry services emerge as a fundamental element in prevention in young people at-risk.
Conclusion: Primary prevention is increasingly being recognized as an essential tool to address the high burden of mental disorders. Mental health organizations, public health, policy makers and society should work together to further implement this evidence-based and cost-effective strategy.
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