Mobile Mental Health Virtual Communities: Challenges and Opportunities

Eftychiou, Linda; Morr, Christo El

doi:10.1057/978-1-349-95173-4_15

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In this regard, web-based as well as mobile-based (i.e. m-Health) interventions could be explored [ 32 , 57 ], as could virtual communities’ role in providing a sense of community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Currently, the community dimension of online presence has not been addressed in online mindfulness interventions. Online communities [ 27 , 28 ], whether static or mobile, proved to play a major role in digital health [ 29 – 31 ], including mental health [ 11 , 32 , 33 ]. They have been proven to be effective in knowledge dissemination [ 34 ], health monitoring [ 35 ], self-management of health conditions [ 36 ] and chronic disease management [ 37 ].…”

Section: The Community Dimension In Online Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effectiveness of online mindfulness interventions on medical students’ mental health: a systematic review

Yogeswaran

Morr

2021

BMC Public Health

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Background Medical school typically presents students with a combination of academic and personal stressors that may lead to substandard mental health wellbeing. Meditation practices such as mindfulness facilitate a greater awareness of one's thoughts and feelings, thereby decreasing emotional reactivity. The use of mindfulness-based interventions delivered online has considerable potential in fostering self-care and helping medical students to handle mental health challenges. We examined the available evidence on the use of online mindfulness interventions in order to determine whether they are feasible and effective for improving medical students’ mental health. Methods We performed a systematic review guided by PRISMA guidelines and utilised the following databases: ProQuest, Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, IEEE Explore, Cochrane, and CINAHL. The key search terms used include mindfulness, cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, online, web, virtual, internet cyber, app, medical students, residency students, and residents. English-language articles published in the last ten years that described online interventions for medical students or residents were included in the review. Results Two studies describing the impact of online mindfulness interventions on medical students’ mental health were identified. Research in this domain is nascent; available qualitative and quantitative evidence suggests benefits in self-compassion, perceived stress, cognitive skill use, mindfulness, creating coping mechanisms, and greater awareness of emotions and feelings. There was no evidence of the effectiveness of online mindfulness interventions on depression, anxiety and burnout. There was, however, general low program usage and participation tended to diminish near the conclusion of the interventions. Conclusions The evidence found in the systematic review exhibits the potential for online mindfulness interventions to be effective in addressing some mental health challenges of medical students. There was insufficient evidence to support the use of online mindfulness interventions for burnout, depression, and anxiety. Longitudinal studies with randomised controlled trials are required to generate stronger and robust evidence.

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“…In this regard, web-based as well as mobile-based (i.e. m-Health) interventions could be explored [ 32 , 57 ], as could virtual communities’ role in providing a sense of community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Community Dimension In Online Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of online mindfulness interventions on medical students’ mental health: a systematic review

Yogeswaran

Morr

2021

BMC Public Health

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Connected Mental Health: Systematic Mapping Study

Drissi¹,

Ouhbi²,

Idrissi³

et al. 2020

J Med Internet Res

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Background Although mental health issues constitute an increasing global burden affecting a large number of people, the mental health care industry is still facing several care delivery barriers such as stigma, education, and cost. Connected mental health (CMH), which refers to the use of information and communication technologies in mental health care, can assist in overcoming these barriers. Objective The aim of this systematic mapping study is to provide an overview and a structured understanding of CMH literature available in the Scopus database. Methods A total of 289 selected publications were analyzed based on 8 classification criteria: publication year, publication source, research type, contribution type, empirical type, mental health issues, targeted cohort groups, and countries where the empirically evaluated studies were conducted. Results The results showed that there was an increasing interest in CMH publications; journals were the main publication channels of the selected papers; exploratory research was the dominant research type; advantages and challenges of the use of technology for mental health care were the most investigated subjects; most of the selected studies had not been evaluated empirically; depression and anxiety were the most addressed mental disorders; young people were the most targeted cohort groups in the selected publications; and Australia, followed by the United States, was the country where most empirically evaluated studies were conducted. Conclusions CMH is a promising research field to present novel approaches to assist in the management, treatment, and diagnosis of mental health issues that can help overcome existing mental health care delivery barriers. Future research should be shifted toward providing evidence-based studies to examine the effectiveness of CMH solutions and identify related issues.

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Compound Crises: The Impact of Emergencies and Disasters on Mental Health Services in Puerto Rico

Rivera,

Belligoni,

Arroyo Rodriguez

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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Background: Mental health in Puerto Rico is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been shaped by the island’s unique history, culture, and political status. Recent challenges, including disasters, economic hardships, and political turmoil, have significantly affected the mental well-being of the population, coupled with the limitations in the accessibility of mental health services. Thus, Puerto Rico has fewer mental health professionals per capita than any other state or territory in the United States. Objective: This comprehensive review examines the impact of disasters on mental health and mental health services in Puerto Rico. Given the exodus of Puerto Ricans from the island, this review also provides an overview of mental health resources available on the island, as well as in the continental United States. This review identifies efforts to address mental health issues, with the intent of gaining a proper understanding of the available mental health services, key trends, as well as observable challenges and achievements within the mental health landscape of the Puerto Rican population. Design: A comprehensive search using the PRIMO database of the University of Central Florida (UCF) library database was conducted, focusing on key terms related to disasters and mental healthcare and services in Puerto Rico. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies on Puerto Rican individuals, both those who remained on the island and those who migrated post-disaster, addressing the mental health outcomes and services for adults and children. We included peer-reviewed articles published from 2005 onwards in English and/or Spanish, examining the impact of disasters on mental health, accessibility of services, and/or trauma-related consequences. Results: In this scoping review, we identified 39 studies addressing the mental health profile of Puerto Ricans, identifying significant gaps in service availability and accessibility and the impact of environmental disasters on mental health. The findings indicate a severe shortage of mental health services in Puerto Rico, exacerbated by disasters such as Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the earthquakes of late 2019 and early 2020 that followed, and the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in substantial delays in accessing care, and limited insurance coverage, particularly in rural regions. Despite these challenges, efforts to improve mental health services have included substantial federal funding and community initiative aimed at enhancing care availability and infrastructure. Limitations include the use of a single database, language restrictions, and potential variability in data extraction and synthesis. Conclusions: This scoping review highlights the significant impact of disasters on mental health in Puerto Rico and the challenges in accessing mental health services exacerbated by disasters. Despite efforts, significant gaps in mental healthcare and services persist, emphasizing the need for more rigorous research and improvements in infrastructure and workforce to enhance mental health outcomes for Puerto Ricans both on the island and in the continental United States.

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Mobile Mental Health Virtual Communities: Challenges and Opportunities

Cited by 3 publications

References 29 publications

Effectiveness of online mindfulness interventions on medical students’ mental health: a systematic review

Effectiveness of online mindfulness interventions on medical students’ mental health: a systematic review

Connected Mental Health: Systematic Mapping Study

Compound Crises: The Impact of Emergencies and Disasters on Mental Health Services in Puerto Rico

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