The added value of health promotion and prevention within mental healthcare

This article, written in Dutch, argues for the added value of health promotion and preventive interventions within mental healthcare and describes how these can be integrated into clinical practice.

Abstract

Mental health is receiving increasing attention in healthcare policy. This is a positive development, since a substantial number of people experience psychological problems and there is no doubt that mental health is essential for everyone. Partly because of this growing attention and the rising demand for care, mental healthcare is under increasing pressure. The available services do not meet the demand, leading to waiting lists and preventing people who need care from receiving adequate support. In the short term, the sector faces the challenge of supporting more and more people with limited time and resources.

There is therefore a need for a positive and forward-looking approach. Greater attention to prevention and mental health promotion within mental healthcare can play an important role in this. After providing an overview of the current situation in mental healthcare, this text therefore reflects on the concepts of mental health promotion and prevention. It then maps the barriers facing mental healthcare and explains how initiatives focusing on mental health promotion and prevention can contribute to solutions. Finally, it also clarifies the specific role that clinical psychologists can play in this.

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Reference

Van Daele, T., Hermans, D., Van den Bergh, O., & Van Audenhove, C. (2014). De meerwaarde van gezondheidspromotie en preventie binnen de GGZ. Tijdschrift Klinische Psychologie, 44(2), 120-129.