Shortage Of Professionals Research Articles

Digital interventions for alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in low- and-middle-income countries: a systematic review

Abstract Background Despite the high burden of alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), access to health care is poor. Digital interventions (DIs) have recently emerged as promising avenues for addressing substance use. Such interventions could potentially address barriers to help-seeking in LMICs such as travel costs, shortage of professionals, stigma etc. Aim To synthesise evidence on effectiveness and implementation of DIs for AUDs in LMICs. Methods The systematic review had a comprehensive search strategy that combined search terms for DIs (e.g. SMS, ehealth), alcohol use (e.g. hazardous drinking), and LMICs (e.g. India). Studies presenting primary data that reported effectiveness (e.g. relapse) and/or implementation or intervention-related outcomes (e.g. feasibility) of DIs for AUDs in LMICs were eligible. Three databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycInfo) were searched from their inception till June 2023. Data was extracted in relevant categories and analysed. Results 21 reports from 19 studies were included. Types of DIs ranged from standalone mobile applications and web portals, to human-delivered interventions via digital platforms. 12 studies reported positive or partially-positive alcohol use outcomes (e.g. number of drinking-days, abstinence). DIs with human-involvement were found to be more effective than standalone DIs. Additionally, high levels of acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction were reported across interventions. Conclusion DIs are acceptable and feasible in LMICs and broadly effective in improving alcohol use outcomes. Firm conclusions could not be drawn because of methodological issues such as small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and limited generalisability. Adequate investment, improved research methodology, and increased focus on implementation outcomes is required for determining the role that DIs can play in addressing AUDs in LMICs.

Pediatricians at the forefront of child mental health? A Delphi method exploration

BackgroundRising mental health challenges among children and adolescents are a global concern. However, a shortage of professionals, inadequate competence and lack of resources hamper necessary care, presenting a major challenge to health service provision. Community pediatricians, frequently the initial contact for mental health issues, are in a key position to improve access to care. The Delphi method was employed as an initial step toward redefining the role of pediatricians and the re-design of pediatric responses within Israeli primary mental health care.MethodNinety-two experts, including pediatricians, psychiatrists, mental health and child-development professionals, and parents of children with emotional-behavioral challenges participated in a three-round Delphi study. A survey including 6 topics (37 items, 9 demographic questions) was distributed, probing the envisioned role of pediatricians in children’s mental health care.ResultsThere was strong endorsement between experts regarding pediatricians’ potential roles in risk identification, parental guidance, psycho-education, and health policy isuues such as referrals to mental health professionals, and the need for training in this domain. However, discord arose concerning changes in the service framework and pediatricians’ role in psychiatric drug prescription. The majority agreed on the necessity of close support from mental health experts, despite differing in the form it should take.ConclusionsThis study underscores the critical need for mental health training among pediatricians and advocates for a structured, consensus-driven model to bolster early detection and initial treatment of mental health issues in children. The findings highlight the potential for leveraging this model to drive health policy changes and improve service delivery in pediatric mental health care, and might inform other health systems considering extending pediatricians’ roles. By equipping pediatricians with essential competencies, this approach can broaden mental health service delivery and reduce stigma. Aligning the model with expert consensus paves the way for impactful policy reform, enhancing pediatricians’ roles in mental health risk identification and intervention, and advancing child health services.

A IMPORTÂNCIA DA ATENÇÃO PRIMÁRIA À SAÚDE (APS) NA PROMOÇÃO DA SAÚDE COLETIVA

The research aimed to analyze the importance of Primary Health Care (PHC) in the promotion of collective health in Brazil, highlighting its contributions, challenges and potentialities within the context of the Unified Health System (SUS). The methodology used was a bibliographic research, which involved the review of articles, books and official documents on PHC and public health. The results showed that PHC, by prioritizing prevention, health promotion, and universal and equitable access to care, plays a crucial role in improving the health conditions of the population, especially the most vulnerable. In addition, PHC contributes to the reduction of social inequalities and to the integration of care between the different levels of the SUS. However, the survey also revealed significant challenges, such as lack of resources, regional inequality in access to services, and a shortage of professionals in some areas, which still limit the effectiveness of PHC in some regions of the country. The conclusion indicated that, although there are obstacles to be overcome, PHC has enormous potential to transform the health model, promoting a fairer and more efficient system, especially when there are adequate investments, continuous training of professionals, and strengthening of public health policies. The survey reinforces the importance of continuing to improve PHC to achieve a more inclusive and equitable health system.

Post-pandemic patient safety: have the characteristics of incidents with harm changed? Comparative observational study in primary care via review of medical records with a trigger tool

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic generated or accelerated healthcare changes, some of which persist thereafter (e.g., healthcare reorganisation, remote consultation). Such changes entail novel risks for patient safety.MethodsAimTo compare the characteristics of patient safety incidents with harm (PSIH) in primary care before the pandemic and at present.Design and settingCross-sectional, comparative, observational study conducted within the entire Primary Care Service of the Madrid region with observations at two time points (2018 and 2021/2022).ParticipantsPatients > 18 years of age with at least one consultation in the previous year. The necessary sample size was established at N1 = 2,000 for the first time point and N2 = 2,700 for the second. Sampling was performed by simple randomisation for the first group and by clusters followed by simple randomisation for the second.Main measurementsAge, gender, presence of PSIH in the medical record, and characteristics of the PSIH, specifically avoidability, severity, place of occurrence, nature, and contributory factors. Triggers validated in primary care were employed to screen the patients’ medical records and those containing any trigger were reviewed by three nurse-physician teams who underwent previous training.AnalysisComparative analysis using Fisher’s exact test.ResultsA total of 63 PSIHs and 25 PSIHs were found for the first and second samples, respectively. The comparison of the characteristics of PSIH before the pandemic and currently was: avoidable 62% vs. 52% (p = 0.47), mild 51% vs. 48% (p = 0.57), in the primary care setting 73% vs. 64% (p = 0.47), respectively. Although no statistically significant differences were observed globally in the nature of the incidents (p = 0.13), statistically significant differences were found for diagnostic errors, with pre-pandemic rates of 6% vs. 20% at present (p < 0.05). Finally, no significant differences were found in the contributory factors.ConclusionsNo differences were found in the avoidability, severity, place of occurrence, or contributory factors of PSIHs before the pandemic and currently. In terms of the nature of these incidents, the outcomes revealed an increase in diagnostic errors (excluding diagnostic tests), which could be attributed to a greater frequency of remote consultations and a decrease in the longitudinality of care resulting from the shortage of professionals.

Étude capacité théranostique 2023–2024 – Modélisation sur la base de la RIV-PSMA. Radiothérapie interne vectorisée (RIV), une approche théranostique à laquelle le patient doit avoir accès. Partie II : analyse approfondie

This in-depth analysis highlights the issues and perspectives regarding the deployment and optimization of vectorized internal radiotherapy (VIR), based on the VIR-PSMA model, which is the first theranostic modality that changes the scale of clinical management in nuclear medicine. It made it possible to confirm a characterization of health establishments based on their experience and their ability to integrate this new treatment modality into their care offering. Here are 8 key points and recommendations highlighted in the following pages: 1. Current and future reception capacity: “experienced” and “initiated” establishments have the greatest short-term reception capacity, while “medium-term future” and “long-term future” establishments will come, in the medium and long term respectively, strengthen the provision of care. They will be able to strengthen the healthcare offer and the territorial network if the award of a B rating allows them to do so. 2. Discrepancy between capacity and need: a gap is already observed between the number of patients who can be treated and the real needs of patients eligible for VIR-PSMA, even though capacity projections are voluntarily restricted to “experienced” and “initiated” services only (the “future” services in the medium and long term are not to date uniform in obtaining the necessary authorizations). This gap between capacity and need can be considered initially by optimizing the use of existing resources (in particular thanks to available land capacity), which remains mainly limited by the shortage of professionals. Secondly, the granting of authorizations to “future” services will make it possible to complete the system, and in particular to promote the regional distribution of care provision which shows disparities that could be sources of inequitable access to care in France. 3. Clinical pathway and harmonization of practices: the clinical pathway for patients benefiting from a VIR requires harmonization of practices and the making of recommendations by the SFMN (from the assessment of eligibility to post-dose monitoring, including the organization of treatments and the reception of patients). 4. Training and recruitment needs: the anticipated growth in demand for VIR requires strengthening teams through the recruitment of all staff involved in the patient's journey, as well as the creation of cooperation protocols between all health professionals by strengthening the initial and continuing training of all professionals involved. 5. Investments and adaptation of infrastructure: significant investments in specialized infrastructure and in the upgrading of “up-and-coming” establishments are necessary to support the increase in VIR-related activity. 6. Define a valuation model allowing these care activities to be sustained while meeting specific constraints in terms of operation, infrastructure, and regulations. 7. Role of regional health agencies (ARS): the ARS play a crucial role in coordinating the deployment of the VIR, requiring adaptation of the offer to local needs and a coherent national policy to face the challenges, particularly in the awarding of B grades, but also by ensuring that the teams of professionals are sufficient and trained and that the service meets logistical and security requirements. 8. Short, medium and long term strategies: to respond to the anticipated saturation of reception capacities, strategic actions are necessary in the short-term (less than 2 years), in the medium-term (less than 5 years), and long-term (more than 5 years), including the structuring of the organization, the expansion of recruitment, the harmonization of practices, and the strengthening of reception capacities.

Training healthcare professionals in assessment of health needs in older adults living at home: a scoping review

BackgroundInterprofessional assessment and management of health needs for older adults living at home can help prioritize community service resources and enhance health, yet there is a shortage of professionals with the necessary competencies. Therefore, support and training for healthcare professionals in community settings to assess older adults’ health with the aim of for health promotion are needed.AimTo identify and provide an overview of published papers describing approaches for training healthcare professionals in assessing physical, mental, and social health needs in older adults living at home.MethodA systematic literature search of the Cinahl, Medline, Academic Search Ultimate, Scopus, Embase, and British Nursing Index databases was performed. We considered studies focusing on the training of healthcare professionals in assessing a single or multiple health needs of older adults aged 65 and above living at home. We considered studies published between 1990 – and March 2024. The review evaluated qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies published in English-language peer-reviewed academic journals. A quality appraisal was conducted via the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).ResultsTwenty-three studies focused on training healthcare professionals to assess health needs and plan care for older adults living at home were included. The majority of the included studies combined teacher-driven pedagogical approaches consisting of educational sessions, written materials or e-learning, and more participant-engaging pedagogical approaches such as knowledge exchange or various forms of interactive learning. Healthcare professionals were trained to detect and manage single and multiple health needs, and some studies additionally incorporated interprofessional collaboration. Healthcare professionals were satisfied with the training content and it increased their confidence and competencies in health needs assessment and care planning for older adults. Moreover, some studies have reported that training interventions foster the implementation of new and effective ways of working and lead to positive outcomes for older adults.ConclusionHealthcare professionals were satisfied with a combination of participant-engaging and teacher-driven pedagogical approaches used to train them in assessing health needs and planning care for older adults living at home. Such training can lead to enhanced assessment skills and facilitate improvements in practice and health promotion for older adults. Future research is recommended on interprofessional simulation training for conducting structured and comprehensive health needs assessments of older adults living at home, as well as on the implementation of such assessments and health-promoting interventions.

Primary care team reorganisation after the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Differences between Catalonia and Spain in the PRICOV study.

Spanish primary care services are managed differently by each region's authorities. Catalonia started its services provision and design nearly two decades before other Spanish regions and developed nurses' roles and task shifting in primary care. This work identifies differences in the Europe PRICOV-19 study answers between Catalonia and those submitted from the rest of Spain regarding how primary care teams (PCT) were organised during the SARS-CoV-2-2019 pandemic, how tasks and roles changed, and the pandemic's impact on the care providers. Initially, we computed bivariate relationships and tested using contingency association and unpaired Wilcoxon. Still, we estimated multiple linear regressions controlling with a list of individual and GP practice characteristics and clustering standard errors at the kind of location. Main statistically significant differences were found in the adaptation to the new tasks, the ability to solve most health problems, and specific accessibilities to primary care. In Catalonia, satisfaction with the adaptation to the new tasks was higher (41.9% satisfied and 30.2% neutral) than in the rest of Spain (50.9% dissatisfaction). Also, GPs in Catalonia reported to a greater extent than the rest of Spain that chronic patients were listed for extensive follow-up. These differences may be related to Catalonia's strategy for empowering primary care professionals other than family doctors. Considering future pandemics, demographic ageing, and professional shortages, we point out the potential benefits of these changes in PCT organisations and the need to review the centres's design.

Analysis of Current Situation, Problems and Countermeasures of Big Data in the Field of Engineering Management

Currently, the field of engineering management is experiencing rapid development and has become a significant force in promoting economic and social growth. Due to its complexity, creativity, systematization, and risk characteristics, the field of engineering management presents individuals with significant technical needs and processing difficulties. Big data has achieved significant advancements in the engineering management field due to its characteristics, including large data volumes, various types, and predictability. By utilizing big data, a sizable amount of engineering data can be rapidly analyzed and optimized for design solutions, resulting in improved efficiency and increased accuracy in decision-making while also reducing costs. However, the role of big data in engineering management is limited by issues such as data insecurity, low quality, and a shortage of professionals. This paper proposes solutions to address these challenges, including strengthening data security, enhancing data quality control, and improving personnel training and technological innovation.

Breastfeeding in primary health care: weaknesses and potentialities of nursing care

Objective: To identify the weaknesses and potentialities of nursing care for breastfeeding in Primary Health Care (PHC). Methods: A qualitative study developed through workshops held in September 2021 with 43 nursing professionals. Results: Two categories emerged: “Weaknesses of breastfeeding nursing care in PHC” and “Potentialities of breastfeeding nursing care in PHC”. Weaknesses permeate the discourse, which is often not in line with the reality of the postpartum period, lack of theoretical and practical knowledge, cultural influences, short maternity and paternity leave, shortage of professionals, absence of meetings, inappropriate physical space, limited time for care, failure to address the issue and lack of training. Presented as potentialities are the availability of professionals for guidance in different environments, the work of community health agents, the existence of the Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health Center, the Municipal Breastfeeding Support Network, the use of technology and encouraging the participation of partners from prenatal to postpartum. Conclusion: It is necessary to consider the weaknesses identified in order to develop improvement actions focused on increasing breastfeeding indices. As for the strengths, they reflect successful practices that can support and guide other nursing services.

An investigation into accounting and business students’ employability beliefs

ABSTRACT The accounting profession is challenged by professional shortages, declining university enrolments, and uncertainty about the profile of future accountants regarding technological advancements. It is thus timely to investigate the employability beliefs of accounting students in higher education throughout Australia. This study employed a multi-factor self-assessment of perceived employability (PE) grounded in social cognitive career theory to investigate the PE of accounting students (n = 3116) relative to other business students (n = 4973), and across degree progression. Compared with their business peers, accounting students reported greater program awareness, but their perceived communication skills, emotional intelligence, and ethical and responsible behaviour were lower than their business peers. Accounting students became more likely to reconsider their choice of program as they progressed, with accounting students in their third year or later less confident in terms of self-awareness, program awareness, the perceived relevance of their program, and their perceived ethical and responsible behaviour. The discipline-specific comparisons extend previous research and indicate that employability initiatives should be embedded early in accounting curricula to enhance students’ PE, career understanding, and related skillsets. The potential to enhance accounting students’ PE, and thus improve academic achievement, persistence, and employment outcomes is relevant to educators, curriculum managers and accreditation bodies.

The perspective of psychiatric nurses by the European Psychiatric Nurses (Horatio)

AbstractIn the health care system, nurses are often the biggest professional group and therefore their role is important in the development of service system to meet the current needs of support and help in mental health. Novel solutions are needed, solutions which are not only developed between the professionals, but in collaboration with the people seeking for help, family members, other social networks, and different service providers, like NGOs. Human rights and community-based approaches are guiding this development together with the principles of recovery approach. At the same time there are challenges to overcome, like the shortage of professionals, which also demand new kind of collaboration and solutions to make the field of mental health attractive for future professionals and to support the retention of those who are working in practice at the moment. In the joint symposium the viewpoint of mental health/psychiatric nurses on these issues will be presented.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Research on the Talent Team Construction of Township Social Work Stations in the Context of Rural Revitalisation

Talent is the foundation of rural revitalisation and an important part of the construction of township social work stations, while township social work stations, as a product of rural revitalisation and development, provide professional social work talents for rural revitalisation in a continuous manner, but in the process of the construction of the talent team in township social work stations, it is found that there are shortages of professionals, lack of professional competence, insufficient localisation, and loss of talents in township social work stations, which urgently need to innovate the mechanism of the construction of the talent team to solve the dilemmas of the development of talents and to promote rural revitalisation and development.

Transforming Dental Care in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Opportunities.

This comprehensive review examines the dental healthcare system in Saudi Arabia, tracing its evolution, current status, and persisting challenges. The system has evolved significantly due to government initiatives and technological integration, yet it grapples with issues like professional shortages, financial constraints, and disparities in access. Despite improvements in accessibility, geographic and socio-economic disparities persist, and oral health promotion remains limited. The integration of technology faces resistance, and specialized care for people with disabilities requires targeted strategies. Cultural and social factors influence oral health, and the system's response to the COVID-19 pandemic showcases adaptability and patient-centered approaches. Addressing these challenges is crucial for ensuring equitable and effective oral health service delivery in Saudi Arabia.

Integrate in US or Bridge with China? Four-in-one Media’s Role during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Diasporic WeChat subscription accounts have emerged as a special media sphere in over 65 countries across five continents. This study explores their role and influencing factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research sample comprised the “Big Two” of the US Chinese media: Sing Tao (US edition) and The US China Press. A computer-assisted content analysis on 2022 suggests that they primarily fulfil information and integration roles rather than a bridging role with China. However, in-depth interviews with 12 editors and scholars in the US provide opposite insights: diasporic WeChat subscription accounts find it difficult to achieve dynamic integration and bridging roles, because of the pandemic’s impacts, insufficient income, shortage of professionals, and especially political impacts in China and the US. The results highlight (1) these special digital media’s role overlaps content and social environment, local and global, and present and future, (2) the methodological differences between content analysis validity and in-depth interview.

Improving Audit Quality with Data Analytic Visualizations: The Importance of Spatial Abilities and Feedback in Anomaly Identification

SYNOPSIS Public accounting firms and internal audit departments are implementing data analytics to enhance effectiveness and efficiency; however, there is a shortage of professionals with data analysis skills and the ability to derive meaningful insights. We conducted a quasiexperiment to examine whether and how individuals’ spatial abilities and types of feedback are related to anomaly identification performance. We predict and find that those with higher spatial abilities choose better visualizations and, in turn, are more accurate at anomaly identification. Auditors with lower spatial abilities can choose better visualizations and more accurately identify anomalies when they are provided task property feedback (i.e., feedback about the process) rather than outcome feedback or no feedback. Finally, a combination of high spatial abilities and task property feedback significantly reduces the number of false positive anomalies identified for all auditors. Our findings suggest practitioners should consider measuring spatial abilities during recruitment and when assigning visualization tasks.

Enhancing mental health literacy and care through community-driven solutions in rural Bangladesh.

Women in rural Bangladesh encounter significant barriers to seeking mental healthcare, primarily due to stigmatization rooted in a lack of knowledge about mental health. To address this issue, community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been identified as a promising approach. CBPR involves the active collaboration of community members and stakeholders in the research process to tackle pressing community issues. This study examines the application of CBPR to enhance mental health awareness and education among women. The program described in this study leverages local technology centers and community health workers to boost participation in improving access to equitable mental healthcare and increasing health literacy. Implemented across three rural districts in Bangladesh, the program began with a needs assessment survey to evaluate participants' knowledge, experiences, and stigmatization of psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicide, and postpartum depression. This survey assessed baseline knowledge, personal experiences, and the perceived impact of mental wellness as a community issue. Additionally, five focus group discussions were conducted at local tech hubs with trained community health workers to explore participants' perceptions and attitudes toward mental health. These discussions highlighted the role of medical misinformation, the shortage of professionals, and other factors contributing to mental health stigmatization. The study's second phase would focus on developing digital medical content for screening at tech hubs, followed by live Q&A sessions with Bangladeshi health experts. This initiative aims to familiarize women with user-friendly telehealth services, fostering healthcare literacy and improving well-being in rural Bangladesh.

The Crucial Need for Child Assessments and Interventions Training in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, children face significant challenges that impede their well-being and development, including poverty, violence, abuse, and limited access to healthcare and education. These adversities profoundly impact their physical, mental, and emotional health. Over 70% of the population lives in poverty, depriving children of essential resources such as nutritious food, clean water, and proper sanitation (World Bank, 2022). High incidences of violence and abuse further jeopardise children’s development, with approximately one in three girls and one in five boys experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18 (UNICEF Zimbabwe, 2019). The healthcare system is strained by a shortage of professionals and insufficient training in child-specific needs, failing to provide adequate care (Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care, 2021). The education sector also struggles, particularly in rural areas, where children face inadequate facilities and untrained teachers (Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, 2020). To address these challenges, robust training programs in child assessments and interventions are crucial. Such training would equip healthcare providers, educators, and social workers with the skills to identify developmental disorders and other issues early, allowing for timely and appropriate interventions. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for children with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disabilities (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020). Investing in child assessments and intervention training would enhance professionals’ abilities to support children who have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect. This investment would also address the impacts of poverty and violence by enabling targeted support such as counselling, nutritional assistance, and educational programs. Effective community-based interventions, supported by well-trained professionals, can mitigate the adverse effects of socio-economic challenges (Cluver et al., 2018). Moreover, comprehensive training programs for educators can enhance educational outcomes for children with special needs. Early identification of learning disabilities through thorough child assessments allows for the development of individualised education plans (IEPs), providing customized support to meet each child’s unique needs (Shaywitz, 2003). Improving access to healthcare through mobile clinics and telehealth services, alongside training healthcare providers in child assessments, can bridge the gap in healthcare services for children, especially in rural areas. Developing a supportive infrastructure, including standardized assessment tools, training programs, and a robust referral system, is essential for effective implementation (van der Linde et al., 2018). By prioritizing child assessments and intervention training, Zimbabwe can create a supportive environment for children’s development, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. This coordinated effort will pave the way for a brighter future for Zimbabwe’s youth, fostering their growth and development amidst challenging circumstances.

Stakeholder perspectives of mental healthcare services in Bangladesh, its challenges and opportunities: a qualitative study.

This study explores Bangladesh's mental health services from an individual- and system-level perspective and provides insights and recommendations for strengthening it's mental health system. We conducted 13 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions. Thirty-one participants were recruited using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods. All interviews and group discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed, and key findings were translated from Bengali to English. Data were coded manually and analysed using a thematic and narrative analysis approach. Stakeholders perceived scarcity of service availability at the peripheral level, shortage of professionals, weak referral systems, lack of policy implementation and regulatory mechanisms were significant challenges to the mental health system in Bangladesh. At the population level, low levels of mental health literacy, high societal stigma, and treatment costs were barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Key recommendations included increasing the number of mental health workers and capacity building, strengthening regulatory mechanisms to enhance the quality of care within the health systems, and raising awareness about mental health. Introducing measures that relate to tackling stigma, mental health literacy as well as building the capacity of the health workforce and governance systems will help ensure universal mental health coverage.

Clinical nurse specialists and Swiss politics

Like the rest of Europe, the Swiss healthcare system is facing major challenges. Demand for healthcare services is increasing due to an ageing population, chronic diseases and digital needs, while supply suffers from a shortage of professionals. To meet these challenges, the healthcare system must integrate innovative and interprofessional care models. The coherence of this development requires the collaboration of all stakeholders in the healthcare system. The role of clinical nurse specialists as agents of change and their knowledge of the health care system make them key stakeholders. In this context, it is essential that they maintain a holistic view of the healthcare system, focusing on quality of care and patient safety.

Mental health implications of suicide rates in South Africa.

Mental health challenges are a severe issue that could lead to suicide if not properly addressed. South Africa has a significant burden of mental health issues, which contributes to the soaring rate of suicide. Adequate mental health-care provision could reduce the high suicide rate in South Africa. Since the apartheid regime, the country has made a series of efforts to improve mental health. This study aimed to review and examine available literature on mental health and suicide issues in South Africa and demonstrate the policy implications. This study adopted a narrative review approach. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scilit, Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar) were used to identify published articles in the English language with crucial search terms that included mental health, South African mental health policy, South Africa, suicide and policy. Literature suggests that at the provincial level, there are no adequate mental health policies, and the implementation of the country's mental health policy is faced with many challenges, such as a shortage of professionals and finances. The review also showed that task sharing and counselling have been pilot-tested and shown to be effective methods for the prevention of mental illness and promotion of positive mental health. This study concludes that the mental health treatment gap still exists in South Africa, and this needs to be tackled using effective, multi-level counselling interventions and policy initiatives. Adequate mental health-care provision and effective implementation of mental health policy could reduce the high rate of suicide in South Africa.