<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Introduction:</bold> The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging the health care systems and public wellbeing unprecedentedly. The United Kingdom and Turkiye were the countries worst hit by the pandemic in the World Health Organization European region.
<bold>Purpose</bold>: This review investigated the mental health policies in these countries which draw a contrasting pattern of mental health care, sociodemographic background, and income level. Following the investigation, we recommended the possible directions to be pursued by European policymakers
<bold>Methodology</bold>: The documents were picked from the health policy sections from the websites of international organizations (European Parliament, OECD, WHO, UN), online data and policy reports of national ministerial bodies, and general web search. Later, the papers were reviewed and the author identified the main concepts of the responses to discuss after policy review. The study was designed as a review; therefore, no statistical framework was conducted.
<bold>Results</bold>: Identified concepts were as follows: a) continuing service provision for people with mental health conditions, b) digital mental health care interventions, c) building psychological resilience for citizens.
<bold>Conclusions</bold>: A strategy only focusing on treating mental health conditions will not be sustainable during the post-pandemic era. It is essential to address mental health in all policies to foster a strong mental health care system.
</abstract>

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging the health care systems and public wellbeing unprecedentedly. The United Kingdom and Turkiye were the countries worst hit by the pandemic in the World Health Organization European region.
Purpose: This review investigated the mental health policies in these countries which draw a contrasting pattern of mental health care, sociodemographic background, and income level. Following the investigation, we recommended the possible directions to be pursued by European policymakers
Methodology: The documents were picked from the health policy sections from the websites of international organizations (European Parliament, OECD, WHO, UN), online data and policy reports of national ministerial bodies, and general web search. Later, the papers were reviewed and the author identified the main concepts of the responses to discuss after policy review. The study was designed as a review; therefore, no statistical framework was conducted.
Results: Identified concepts were as follows: a) continuing service provision for people with mental health conditions, b) digital mental health care interventions, c) building psychological resilience for citizens.
Conclusions: A strategy only focusing on treating mental health conditions will not be sustainable during the post-pandemic era. It is essential to address mental health in all policies to foster a strong mental health care system.

Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care.

Mental Health: Global Challenges

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging the health care systems and public wellbeing unprecedentedly. The United Kingdom and Turkiye were the...

Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care.

Published Online: Oct 02, 2022

Page range: 17 - 27

Received: May 17, 2022

Accepted: Aug 27, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56508/mhgcj.v5i2.141

Keywords
Mental health care, COVID-19, mental health policy, mental health, public health

© 2022 Ekin Dagistan, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Mental health policy reactions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two worst-hit WHO European countries: a narrative review and lessons for the aftermath of mental health care.

Published Online: Oct 02, 2022

Page range: 17 - 27

Received: May 17, 2022

Accepted: Aug 27, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56508/mhgcj.v5i2.141

KeywordsMental health care, COVID-19, mental health policy, mental health, public health

© 2022 Ekin Dagistan, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Mental health care, COVID-19, mental health policy, mental health, public health