Mental Health Care Delivery Research Articles

Unveiling Hong Kong’s mental health preferences: insights from survey experiment towards precision care

ABSTRACT This study, grounded in the discourse on precision mental health (PMH), investigates the service preferences of Chinese adults in Hong Kong. Through discrete choice experiments with 1,006 residents aged 18–75, mixed logit regression analysis was used to identify individual preferences, with sub-group analyses uncovering variations therein. Results highlight a strong preference for services that offer prompt access, affordability and professional endorsement, particularly outside the public sector. Additionally, familial contexts significantly influence these preferences, revealing conflicts in provider selection, access modalities, intervention types and the extent of family involvement. Psychological stress also affects service choice. This study underscores the diverse nature of service preferences among Chinese adults in Hong Kong, emphasising the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance PMH implementation within the local healthcare system. By exploring these nuanced preferences, this study enriches discussions on optimising mental healthcare delivery in Hong Kong and potentially other regions.

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on psychiatric and psychological consultation-liaison contacts in a general hospital in North-East of Italy: a retrospective study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has prompted significant changes in healthcare, particularly affecting psychiatric and psychological Consultation-Liaison (CL) services in general hospital settings.AimTo assess the effects of COVID-19-related restrictions on utilization of psychiatric and psychological CL services in Northeast Italy during 2020, and to compare it to the use of services in the previous year (2019).MethodsThe study collected data on psychiatric and psychological consultations in 2019 and 2020 from a hospital database. It categorizes consultations by type of patient (inpatient or outpatient) and referral source (hospital wards, general practitioners, other specialists). Pandemic-related restrictions were classified as “lockdown,” “intermediate restrictions,” and “no or reduced restrictions” based on the Covid Stringency Index (CSI). Poisson regression models were employed to analyze the data.ResultsThe findings reveal a significant 28% increase in the number of psychiatric and psychological consultations in 2020. Consultations for outpatients increased by 51%, while those for inpatients decreased by 11%. However, the lockdown and intermediate restriction phases were deemed responsible of a decrease of 42.9% and 19.5% in consultations respectively.DiscussionThis study highlights the persistent psychological burden during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside reduced CL services due to lockdown measures. Integrating telemedicine into these types of services becomes imperative for meeting patient needs during restrictions. These findings can inform policies and practices to improve effective mental health care delivery during and beyond pandemics. Future research should explore the impact of pandemic-related restrictions on mental healthcare across settings and clinical factors affecting service accessibility.

Predicting dropout and non-response to psychotherapy for personality disorders: A study protocol focusing on therapist, patient, and the therapeutic relationship

BackgroundThe abandonment of psychotherapeutic treatments is influenced by various factors, including patient characteristics, therapist traits, and the therapeutic relationship. Despite the well-documented importance of these factors, limited empirical research has focused on the role of the therapeutic relationship and the characteristics of therapist-patient dyads in predicting treatment dropout. This study protocol outlines a longitudinal research project aimed at predicting dropout and non-response in psychotherapy for individuals with personality disorders. The research seeks to identify predictive factors related to psychotherapy outcomes, focusing on patient, therapist, and dyadic elements. Specifically, the study will examine the influence of therapist characteristics (e.g., personality traits, countertransference, responsiveness) on treatment outcomes, explore the impact of relational factors (e.g., treatment expectations, epistemic trust, therapeutic alliance) on therapy effectiveness, and assess how the therapeutic alliance within therapist-patient dyads affects the likelihood of dropout and non-response.MethodsThe longitudinal study will include 100 therapist-patient dyads (200 participants) recruited from various Mental Health Services in Milan, Italy. Validated instruments will be administered to both patients and therapists at four-time points: T0 (baseline), T1 (3 months), T2 (6 months), and T3 (1 year). Data will be collected at baseline and at the one-year mark to evaluate the relationships between therapist, patient, and dyadic factors and treatment outcomes.DiscussionIdentifying predictive variables associated with high dropout rates can help preempt treatment discontinuation, reducing the financial and operational burdens on mental health services. Understanding these factors will enable the development of targeted interventions to improve treatment engagement and reduce attrition. This approach could enhance outcomes for individuals with personality disorders and lead to more efficient resource allocation and sustainable delivery of mental health care.

Amend the Mental Health Care Act 2017: A Survey of Indian psychiatrists (Part 2)

Background: Information about the experience of practicing psychiatrists with the use of the Mental Health Care Act (MHCA), 2017, India, after 5 years of its promulgation has not been available. Aim: The present study was carried out to understand the experience of the practicing psychiatrists in using and complying with the MHCA 2017 and to bring out the problems and suggested reforms, if any, in various provisions of the MHCA 2017. Methods: An online survey by practicing psychiatrists of Indian Psychiatric Society on the various sections and provisions of the MHCA 17 was carried out through structured and open-ended responses. This paper presents the qualitative analysis of the open-ended responses. Results: There were 600 respondents, who gave a total of 1239 (range 116–154) responses to eight open-ended questions about various provisions of the MHCA. Qualitative analysis revealed that most respondents opined for keeping the General Hospital Psychiatry units exempted from inclusion as the mental health establishment, thus treating physical illness at par with the mental illness; a separate stand-alone law for mental illness perpetuates stigma, asked for a larger representation of psychiatrists in the State Mental Health Authority and Mental Health Review Boards. Most respondents opined that the provisions of capacity assessment, nominated representative, and advance directive are a hinderance in treatment and should be amended; treating psychiatrists and family/caregiver’s consent should suffice for supported admission, just like in other disciplines of medicine; and MHCA 2017 needs major amendments/repeal to make it convenient for patient care. Any unauthorized places/centers where persons with mental illness are kept should come under regulatory control of the state mental health authorities. Conclusion The survey has highlighted several deficiencies and operational difficulties in the current Act that hinder the delivery of mental health care to patients with mental illness in the country and need amendments.

Exploring racial inequalities in maternal mental health outcomes

Abstract Perinatal mental illness affects around 1 in 5 birthing people globally and is associated with adverse outcomes for those affected and their families. Such adverse outcomes are not inevitable and there is now good evidence for a range of both preventive and treatment interventions. There are well-documented inequalities in mental health outcomes across a range of social determinants, including race; such inequalities are also apparent during the perinatal period. There are also racial disparities in mental health care delivery during the perinatal period. Racial inequalities in perinatal mental health are now being recognized as key policy priorities in both the United States and the United Kingdom. This presentation will present routinely collected epidemiological data, investigating the drivers of these racial inequalities in access to perinatal mental health services and associated maternal and child outcomes. It also will present qualitative approaches to exploring current initiatives to reduce inequalities. Findings have the potential to inform the development of culturally sensitive interventions to promote equity in this area for underserved populations in the U.K., U.S., and elsewhere.

The Importance of Honoring Family Caregiver Burden: Challenges in Mental Health Care Delivery.

There is growing recognition of the profound mental health challenges faced by the 53 million U.S.family caregivers, and the need for increased access to psychosocial care for this vulnerable population. Family caregivers are increasingly seeking support from hospital-based counseling centers. This trend-combined with a public policy landscape that promotes the delivery of caregiver-specific supports and services-highlights challenges faced by mental health professionals to provide and bill for psychosocial care to family caregivers. In this paper, we discuss three interrelated challenges that mental health professionals face in providing care to family caregivers and which our field needs to confront as healthcare transfers more responsibilities onto the shoulders of family caregivers: (1) caregiver burden is not recognized as a formal diagnosis; (2) current documentation for caregivers is typically linked to patient encounters; and (3) support for family caregivers occurs within larger systematic barriers to mental health integration. By accurately describing and documenting caregiver burden and advocating for increased parity in mental health coverage, we hope that the field can bridge the gap between emerging research, momentum in policy, and available psychosocial services for this vulnerable population.

Adapting Group Model Building for Mental Healthcare: A Participatory Co-Design Approach.

Countries around the world are experiencing both a growing need for mental health services and major gaps in the delivery of mental healthcare. The World Health Organisation's 2022 report on mental health emphasised co-designed and systems-level innovations responsive to the voice of those with lived experience. However, evidence for implementing such methodologies is sparse. Group model building (GMB), a participatory systems-based approach, has been used in various fields, but its application is limited within mental healthcare settings. It is recognised as a valuable tool for engaging stakeholders, including those with lived experience, in understanding and redesigning health systems and services. The participatory approach aligns with the mental health sector's shift towards co-design and person-centred care. This study assessed the acceptability of GMB as a method for co-design within mental healthcare, aiming to explore its potential for meaningful collaborative improvement and systems-level insights. Participants from a regional Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Service (MHDAS) engaged in GMB workshops and focus groups. Eighteen individuals, including lived experience workers and healthcare professionals, provided feedback that informed adjustments to the workshops' design, language, timing and facilitation techniques, enhancing GMB's relevance for mental health co-design. The findings demonstrate the value and acceptability of the adapted GMB process in acute mental healthcare, marking a significant step towards evidence-based, person-centred service improvement. This study highlights the potential effectiveness of participatory methods in identifying and addressing systemic challenges, paving the way for future mental health reforms. Future work will focus on implementing and evaluating co-designed interventions, aiming for more inclusive and effective mental healthcare and advancing innovation and reform in the field.

Integrating the Epigenetic and Microbiome-Integrated Mental Health (EMIMH) Framework into Community Health Centers: A Discourse Analysis

This study introduces the Epigenetic and Microbiome-Integrated Mental Health (EMIMH) Framework for Community Health Centers (CHCs), aiming to enhance mental health care delivery. CHCs face challenges including funding constraints, workforce shortages, and difficulties implementing integrated care models for mental health services. The EMIMH Framework proposes integrating epigenetic and microbiome considerations into CHC mental health care, offering a personalized and preventive approach. We conducted a critical discourse analysis of texts from 2018-2024, examining perspectives on integrating advanced biological approaches in CHC mental health care. Results reveal growing interest in epigenetic and microbiome approaches, alongside concerns about implementation barriers, ethical implications, and potential health disparities. The EMIMH Framework presents a promising avenue for improving CHC mental health care, potentially enhancing outcomes and reducing costs. However, successful implementation requires addressing practical, ethical, and equity challenges.

ABHW announces new leadership, Greenberg retirement

The Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW), the national voice for payers that manage behavioral health insurance benefits for over 200 million people, announced Sept. 10 that ABWH president and CEO Pamela Greenberg will retire after 26 years at the helm of the association. Debbie Witchey has been appointed the next president and CEO, effective Oct. 1, 2024. Greenberg plans to retire in November 2024. Under Greenberg's leadership, ABHW successfully advocated for numerous policy changes that have positively impacted the delivery of mental health and substance use disorder care, from the development and approval of national behavioral health billing codes to the passage of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and changes to substance use disorder privacy laws that allow care to be better integrated and coordinated. Witchey most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC) where she cultivated productive board relations, member recruitment and retention, strategic planning and financial oversight activities in addition to advocating for all sectors of the health care industry in lobbying Congress on key issues affecting HLC members, including access and coverage, population health and Medicare.

Impacts of clinical psychiatric posting experience on specialization intention and associated factors among Nursing Science students

BackgroundGlobally, there is increasingly high prevalence of mental disorders across all age groups and social classes with more being projected by 2030, but without commensurate resources for mental health care delivery especially in developing countries.PurposeThis study examined the impacts of clinical psychiatric posting on career choice in psychiatry among nursing students in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.MethodsA prospective cohort research design was used and data were collected using attitude towards psychiatry (ATP), mental illness clinician attitude scale (MICA-4) and researcher developed questionnaires on career choice in pre and post clinical posting approach. This study was conducted between November, 2023 to May 2024. A sample size of 400 students (with data collected before posting and after posting) were involved in the study. Data were coded, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 26. McNemar Test was used to determine effects of clinical posting on career choices in psychiatry. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze data on determinants of career choices in psychiatry. The hypotheses (Null and alternative hypotheses) were tested at p-value < 0.05.ResultsPsychiatric and mental health nursing was one of the least preferred specialty, 21(6%) respondents showed interest before clinical posting and 25(7.1%) after the posting. Commonly preferred specialty was pediatric nursing (20.5%), community health nursing (17.1%) and midwifery (17.7%). McNemer test showed no statistically significant differences in choice of psychiatry before and after clinical posting. Key determinants of career choices were interest in psychiatry (AOR = 16.06(95% CI = 1.10, 14.96) P = 0.009), interest in community services (AOR = 4.01(95% CI = 1.32, 12.20)P = 0.014), family influence(AOR = 13.76(95% CI = 1.74, 108.57)p = 0.013) and job satisfaction(AOR = 0.10(95% CI = 0.03, 0.26)P < 0.001).ConclusionThe researcher therefore concluded that clinical psychiatric posting has no significant impacts on career choices in psychiatry among nursing students in Nigeria. Interest of the students, family influence and job satisfaction were significantly associated with career choices among the respondents.

The Role of AI in Improving Mental Health Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing mental health care by improving access to diagnostic and therapeutic services and offering innovative tools for early intervention. AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data enables better predictions, treatment recommendations, and enhanced patient outcomes. Despite its potential, the integration of AI in mental health care faces challenges, including ethical concerns, data privacy, and the risk of biased algorithms. This paper investigates the current challenges in traditional mental health care, discusses AI applications, and highlights future opportunities and ethical considerations. The ongoing development of AI holds promise for reducing the treatment gap and enhancing the quality and efficiency of mental health care delivery. Keywords: Artificial intelligence, mental health care, diagnosis, therapy, AI ethics

Evaluation of Digital Mental Health Technologies in the United States: Systematic Literature Review and Framework Synthesis.

Digital mental health technologies (DMHTs) have the potential to enhance mental health care delivery. However, there is little information on how DMHTs are evaluated and what factors influence their use. A systematic literature review was conducted to understand how DMHTs are valued in the United States from user, payer, and employer perspectives. Articles published after 2017 were identified from MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, the Health Technology Assessment Database, and digital and mental health congresses. Each article was evaluated by 2 independent reviewers to identify US studies reporting on factors considered in the evaluation of DMHTs targeting mental health, Alzheimer disease, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Study quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Qualitative and Cohort Studies Checklists. Studies were coded and indexed using the American Psychiatric Association's Mental Health App Evaluation Framework to extract and synthesize relevant information, and novel themes were added iteratively as identified. Of the 4353 articles screened, data from 26 unique studies from patient, caregiver, and health care provider perspectives were included. Engagement style was the most reported theme (23/26, 88%), with users valuing DMHT usability, particularly alignment with therapeutic goals through features including anxiety management tools. Key barriers to DMHT use included limited internet access, poor technical literacy, and privacy concerns. Novel findings included the discreetness of DMHTs to avoid stigma. Usability, cost, accessibility, technical considerations, and alignment with therapeutic goals are important to users, although DMHT valuation varies across individuals. DMHT apps should be developed and selected with specific user needs in mind.

Healing the Whole: An International Review of the Collaborative Care Model between Primary Care and Psychiatry.

The collaborative care model (CCM) was created to improve the delivery of mental health care and is reported to improve access, enhance treatment outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. To understand the impacts of the CCM on symptom management, diverse populations, and sustainability in healthcare systems, a systematic review was conducted. Several databases were searched for articles assessing the CCM. The inclusion criteria limited the studies to those (1) published between January 2008 and January 2024; (2) written in the English language; (3) analyzing adult patients; (4) analyzing symptom improvement in major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder; and (5) fitting the given definition of a CCM. We identified 9743 articles. Due to missing information or duplication, 4702 were excluded. The remaining articles were screened, yielding 468 articles for full-text analysis, of which 16 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these articles, five primarily focused on individual patient outcomes, five focused on specific populations, and six reviewed system impacts; eleven articles studied US populations and five studied international populations. An analysis revealed that in 12 of the final articles, the CCM led to a statistically significant improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms with viable implementation and sustainability strategies. The CCM is an effective method for improving patient symptoms and can be potentially affordable in healthcare systems.

Mental health provider perspectives on a mobile health application to support remote measurement-based care: Challenges and impacts.

Measurement-based care (MBC) comprises collecting patient-reported outcomes data using validated assessments and using that information to support treatment. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has developed technology platforms to support MBC, including the Mental Health Checkup (MHC) mobile health application (app). Our objective was to examine VHA mental health provider perspectives on the MHC app. We completed a mixed-methods, sequential explanatory evaluation of MHC. We surveyed 284 VHA mental health providers who used MHC, then conducted semistructured telephone interviews with a purposefully selected subset of survey respondents (n = 20). Approximately half of survey respondents agreed that MHC allowed them to collect assessment data from veterans more frequently than before (51%) and that they more frequently discussed assessment results with veterans because of MHC (50%) and used those results to inform goal-setting discussions (50%) and treatment decision making (51%). Bivariate analyses indicated a positive relationship between frequency of MHC use and the aforementioned impacts on care. Interview data conveyed both advantages (e.g., increased treatment efficiency, improved treatment decision making) and challenges (e.g., limited assessment availability, difficulties engaging veterans in completing assessments through the app) to using MHC. This evaluation demonstrated how MHC supported providers working to implement MBC. The app enhanced their ability to reach and engage veterans and incorporate assessment data into clinical encounters. Still, many did not perceive that MHC was impactful on mental health care delivery; given that providers who used MHC more frequently reported more positive impressions of MHC, this may be related to how frequently they used the app. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Digital Clinic: Testing the Feasibility of an Innovative Digital Mental Health Care Delivery Model Designed to Increase Access to Care (Preprint)

The Digital Clinic: Testing the Feasibility of an Innovative Digital Mental Health Care Delivery Model Designed to Increase Access to Care (Preprint)

Australian specialised mental healthcare labour shortages: Potential interventions for consideration and further research.

Specialised mental healthcare delivery is highly labour intensive, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated workforce shortfalls. We explore the information on the mental healthcare labour supply in Australia from a health policy viewpoint. Our purpose is to stimulate discussion, further research and development of interventions. The mental healthcare labour market has a number of features that make it prone to shortages and other distortions. These include: the labour-intensive nature of healthcare work;, long-training periods; that traditional policy levers like pay are only partially effective; as well as other challenges in retaining and recruiting mental health nurses and psychiatrists, especially in public mental health services. Further research is needed to develop and evaluate effective interventions.

Person-centered care for common mental disorders in Ontario’s primary care patient-centered medical homes: a qualitative study of provider perspectives

BackgroundFor more than a decade, the Patient-Centered Medical Home model has been a guiding vision for the modernization of primary care systems. In Canada, Ontario’s Family Health Teams (FHTs) were designed in the mid-2000s with the medical home model in mind. These primary care clinics aim to provide accessible, comprehensive, and person-centered primary care services to communities across Ontario. Their services typically include mental health care for people experiencing common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. It remains unclear, however, whether the mental health care delivered within FHTs is consistent with person-centered care approaches. In the current study, we aimed to explore the perspectives of FHT providers on the care delivered to people with common mental disorders to determine whether, and to what extent, they believed this care was person-centered.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative grounded theory study involving interviews with 65 health professionals and administrators from 18 FHTs across Ontario. Transcripts were coded using a three-step process of initial, focused, and axial coding that mixed inductive and deductive approaches informed by sensitizing concepts on person-centeredness.ResultsPractices and challenges associated with the delivery of mental health care in a person-centered way were captured by several themes regrouped into five domains: (1) patient as unique person, (2) patient-provider relationship, (3) sharing power and responsibility, (4) connecting to family and community, and (5) creating person-centered care environments. FHT providers perceived that they delivered person-centered care by delivering mental health care that was responsive, flexible, and consistent with biopsychosocial approaches. They emphasized the importance of creating long-lasting relationships with patients grounded in empathy and trust. Their challenges included being able to ensure continuity of care, adequately prioritizing patients’ mental health issues, and meaningfully engaging patients and families as partners in care.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that FHT providers have adopted a range of person-centered practices for people with common mental disorders. However, greater attention to practices such as shared decision making, supporting self-management, and involving families in care would strengthen person-centeredness and bring teams closer to the Patient-Centered Medical Home vision.

‘Private practice was my second option’: exploring barriers and facilitators to the delivery of mental health care by registered counsellors in South Africa

The category of registered counsellor was created to service the mental health care needs of the South African population at primary health care level. However, a lack of employment opportunities for registered counsellors within primary health care settings resulted in many opting to work within private practice. In this study, we explored barriers and facilitators to the delivery of mental health care by registered counsellors. We employed purposive and snowball sampling to recruit 15 participants, who were registered counsellors in private practice throughout South Africa, and registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted online via Skype. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. We used the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation model of behaviour and the Theoretical Domains Framework as conceptual frameworks in the study. We identified facilitators and barriers that registered counsellors experienced in their attempts to provide mental health care at a primary care level. We identified three themes and named them as follows: (1) registered counsellors feeling competent, capable, and motivated to engage in community work, (2) the registered counsellor as an unacknowledged mental health professional, and (3) limited alternatives to private practice. We regarded the first theme as a facilitator, and the other two as barriers to the provision of mental health care by registered counsellors in private practice. These findings suggest that registered counsellors felt motivated and capable of providing mental health care, but that structural barriers prevent them from doing so.

Extended Reality for Mental Health Evaluation: Scoping Review.

Mental health disorders are the leading cause of health-related problems worldwide. It is projected that mental health disorders will be the leading cause of morbidity among adults as the incidence rates of anxiety and depression grow worldwide. Recently, "extended reality" (XR), a general term covering virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), is paving the way for the delivery of mental health care. We aimed to investigate the adoption and implementation of XR technology used in interventions for mental disorders and to provide statistical analyses of the design, usage, and effectiveness of XR technology for mental health interventions with a worldwide demographic focus. In this paper, we conducted a scoping review of the development and application of XR in the area of mental disorders. We performed a database search to identify relevant studies indexed in Google Scholar, PubMed, and the ACM Digital Library. A search period between August 2016 and December 2023 was defined to select papers related to the usage of VR, AR, and MR in a mental health context. The database search was performed with predefined queries, and a total of 831 papers were identified. Ten papers were identified through professional recommendation. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed and applied to ensure that only relevant studies were included in the literature review. We identified a total of 85 studies from 27 countries worldwide that used different types of VR, AR, and MR techniques for managing 14 types of mental disorders. By performing data analysis, we found that most of the studies focused on high-income countries, such as the United States (n=14, 16.47%) and Germany (n=12, 14.12%). None of the studies were for African countries. The majority of papers reported that XR techniques lead to a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety or depression. The majority of studies were published in 2021 (n=26, 30.59%). This could indicate that mental disorder intervention received higher attention when COVID-19 emerged. Most studies (n=65, 76.47%) focused on a population in the age range of 18-65 years, while few studies (n=2, 3.35%) focused on teenagers (ie, subjects in the age range of 10-19 years). In addition, more studies were conducted experimentally (n=67, 78.82%) rather than by using analytical and modeling approaches (n=8, 9.41%). This shows that there is a rapid development of XR technology for mental health care. Furthermore, these studies showed that XR technology can effectively be used for evaluating mental disorders in a similar or better way that conventional approaches. In this scoping review, we studied the adoption and implementation of XR technology for mental disorder care. Our review shows that XR treatment yields high patient satisfaction, and follow-up assessments show significant improvement with large effect sizes. Moreover, the studies adopted unique designs that were set up to record and analyze the symptoms reported by their participants. This review may aid future research and development of various XR mechanisms for differentiated mental disorder procedures.

Enhancing Mental Health Treatment Through Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence: A Review and Future Directions.

In recent years, advancements in technology, particularly in virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), have profoundly influenced mental health treatment paradigms. VR offers immersive environments that simulate real-world scenarios, facilitating exposure therapy, skills training, and pain management in controlled, customizable settings. Concurrently, AI utilizes data analytics and machine learning to personalize interventions based on individual patient data, enhancing treatment efficacy and predictive capabilities. This paper comprehensively reviews the integration of VR and AI in mental health care, examining their applications and efficacy across global contexts. From North America's pioneering research to Europe's specialized services and Asia-Pacific's innovative approaches, VR and AI have reshaped therapeutic practices worldwide. However, challenges such as data privacy concerns, regulatory compliance, and technological disparities persist. Future research directions include validating long-term treatment outcomes, addressing ethical considerations, and ensuring equitable access to technology-driven mental health interventions. This review highlights the transformative potential of VR and AI in optimizing mental health care delivery and underscores the need for continued research and collaboration in this evolving field.