Scalable digital interventions to address mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from the Western Pacific Region
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic swept around the world, over 260 million people worldwide were suffering from depression, and nearly 130 million new cases of depression developed every year. As the pandemic forced billions of people into periods of isolation and raised stress levels over everything from personal relationships to job and food security, the state of worldwide mental health teetered on the brink between crisis and catastrophe. With traditional face-to-face treatment hindered by social distancing measures and a shortage of trained professionals to deliver care, many governments and organizations turned to digital mental health interventions, low-intensity treatment options delivered through online platforms, mobile devices, or telephones... <Read More>
Experts discuss digital interventions for mental health at NYU Shanghai
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought greater attention to the digital interventions needed to address anxiety and depression in society, said experts at an online conference on digital mental health interventions held by NYU Shanghai on March 31. The conference brought together researchers and public health practitioners from eight countries including Asia, Europe and Oceania. According to Pim Cuijpers, professor of clinical psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, over 50 percent of the world population suffers from anxiety or depression, with Asia having the highest number of affected people... <Read More>