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Mental Health in Healthcare: Challenges and Perspectives from the Past to the Future

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 6324

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Érika Oliveira-Cardoso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-900, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: health promotion; addictive behaviours; obesity management; women’s health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mental health is a cornerstone of overall well-being, yet it remains a critical and multifaceted challenge within the healthcare sector. This Special Issue seeks to address not only the mental health challenges faced by healthcare professionals but also the quality of mental health care they provide to patients and their families. The stressors faced by healthcare professionals—ranging from high-stakes environments and resource shortages to ethical dilemmas—impact both their well-being and the support they are able to offer to those under their care.

Equally important is the experience of patients and families, who navigate emotional strain alongside medical challenges. Understanding how mental health care is integrated into clinical settings, the effectiveness of psychological interventions, and the role of empathy and communication in treatment outcomes is crucial to improving overall health systems.

This Special Issue invites interdisciplinary research that explores these dual dimensions—how to protect and enhance the mental health of healthcare professionals while also innovating the mental health care they deliver. Topics of interest include resilience-building for professionals, organizational strategies for supporting mental health, approaches to family-centered care, and technologies that improve mental health service delivery. Submissions with practical and systemic implications are particularly welcome.

Dr. Érika Oliveira-Cardoso
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mental health in healthcare
  • burnout and stress in healthcare professionals
  • resilience strategies
  • mental health care for patients and families
  • family-centered psychological care
  • organizational culture and well-being
  • evidence-based mental health interventions
  • technology and innovation in mental health services
  • communication and empathy in healthcare
  • integrated mental health systems

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 321 KB  
Article
Artistic and Playful Resources as Mental Health Support in the Life Trajectories of Trans and Gender-Diverse People: A Qualitative Study from a Public Health Perspective
by Eduardo Name Risk and Jhully Cristine Ananias Boaro
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23030341 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 393
Abstract
Trans and gender-diverse (TGD) people experience significant mental health inequalities. These disparities are associated with structural stigma, social exclusion, and persistent barriers to accessing health services, representing a critical public health issue. Although existing research has largely emphasized biomedical and clinical responses, less [...] Read more.
Trans and gender-diverse (TGD) people experience significant mental health inequalities. These disparities are associated with structural stigma, social exclusion, and persistent barriers to accessing health services, representing a critical public health issue. Although existing research has largely emphasized biomedical and clinical responses, less is known about non-biomedical resources that support mental health across life trajectories. This qualitative study explored, based on participants’ narratives, how artistic and playful resources contribute to mental health across life trajectories, considering contexts of social inequities and social determinants of health. Four trans and gender-diverse participants aged 18–27 years were recruited through snowball sampling and took part in two in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted remotely. Data were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis combining deductive and inductive coding. Findings indicate that artistic and playful practices were described as non-biomedical resources for emotional regulation, coping with minority stress, identity affirmation, and social connection across different life stages. These practices were narrated as helping participants manage psychological distress associated with stigma, discrimination, and limited access to affirmative mental health care. From a public health perspective, the results underscore the importance of recognizing culturally situated, everyday expressive practices as complementary forms of mental health support. Integrating such resources into broader mental health strategies may contribute to more comprehensive, equitable, and non-pathologizing public mental health approaches for trans and gender-diverse populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare: Challenges and Perspectives from the Past to the Future)
21 pages, 496 KB  
Article
Stakeholder Consensus on Strategies for Collaboration Between Traditional and Biomedical Mental Health Services in Post-Conflict Tigray, Ethiopia
by Kenfe Tesfay Berhe, Hailay Abrha Gesesew, Lillian Mwanri and Paul R. Ward
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23020178 - 30 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1113
Abstract
Ongoing conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa negatively affect the population’s mental health and weaken health care systems. Collaboration among stakeholders is recommended to strengthen mental health services in post-conflict settings, despite limited evidence on context-specific strategies. This paper aimed to identify strategies for collaboration [...] Read more.
Ongoing conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa negatively affect the population’s mental health and weaken health care systems. Collaboration among stakeholders is recommended to strengthen mental health services in post-conflict settings, despite limited evidence on context-specific strategies. This paper aimed to identify strategies for collaboration between traditional and biomedical services to improve mental health care. An adapted nominal group technique was employed during a one-day stakeholder workshop. Fourteen participants representing traditional and biomedical mental health services discussed and prioritised strategies based on importance and feasibility to reach consensus. Five collaborative care strategies were prioritised based on stakeholder consensus regarding importance and feasibility: (1) collaborative learning, (2) formalising coordination, (3) capacity building, (4) joint intervention programs, and (5) regulatory support. Key mechanisms for implementing these strategies were also identified, including piloting integrated interventions, appointing a dedicated focal person to coordinate, providing basic psychosocial counselling skills, reducing harmful practices, and strengthening supportive supervision. Mutual learning was identified as a crucial cross-cutting component of all approaches. The conclusion was that implementing these prioritised strategies could improve mental health care. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies in enhancing collaborative care and improving mental health outcomes for individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare: Challenges and Perspectives from the Past to the Future)
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20 pages, 642 KB  
Article
Brazilian Clinical Psychologists’ Perceptions of Online Psychotherapy for Patients with Suicidal Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Grounded Theory Study
by Natália Gallo Mendes Ferracioli, Elaine Campos Guijarro Rodrigues and Manoel Antônio dos Santos
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(8), 1284; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081284 - 17 Aug 2025
Viewed by 3071
Abstract
Online psychotherapy for patients with suicidal behavior was considered inappropriate by the Brazilian Federal Psychology Council prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the need for physical distancing, this restriction was temporarily suspended. This study aims to analyze the perceptions of Brazilian clinical [...] Read more.
Online psychotherapy for patients with suicidal behavior was considered inappropriate by the Brazilian Federal Psychology Council prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the need for physical distancing, this restriction was temporarily suspended. This study aims to analyze the perceptions of Brazilian clinical psychologists regarding online psychotherapy for patients with suicidal behavior in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, to generate a theoretical understanding of this experience. It is a qualitative, exploratory, longitudinal study based on the Constructivist Grounded Theory framework. Ten clinical psychologists who conducted online psychotherapy for patients with suicidal behavior during the pandemic were interviewed at two moments, with an interval of approximately two years: the first round was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021, followed by a second round between November and December 2022. Data analysis led to four categories: (1) Reflecting on suicidal behavior; (2) Addressing specificities of online interventions; (3) Managing suicidal behavior in online psychotherapy; (4) Evaluating online psychotherapy for patients with suicidal behavior. The theoretical model “Pathways of care: main roads and access routes in online psychotherapy for suicidal behavior” was constructed. It was concluded that online psychotherapy for patients with suicidal behavior is complex and requires caution but is feasible and can be important in specific circumstances. This makes it an additional resource for suicide prevention and mental health promotion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare: Challenges and Perspectives from the Past to the Future)
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Review

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19 pages, 530 KB  
Review
The Use of Positive Psychology in Studies with Healthcare Professionals: Scoping Review and Implications for Professional Support
by Wanderlei Abadio de Oliveira
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(3), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23030296 - 27 Feb 2026
Viewed by 657
Abstract
Twenty-five years after the inception of Positive Psychology, its principles are still perceived to be underutilized in addressing working conditions or providing care to healthcare professionals. This article aims to synthesize evidence on the use of Positive Psychology in supporting healthcare workers. A [...] Read more.
Twenty-five years after the inception of Positive Psychology, its principles are still perceived to be underutilized in addressing working conditions or providing care to healthcare professionals. This article aims to synthesize evidence on the use of Positive Psychology in supporting healthcare workers. A detailed data search and analysis strategy was employed to identify scientific evidence that could answer the following guiding question: What empirical evidence is available regarding the effects of applying Positive Psychology principles or interventions to the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals? Ten articles were selected and analyzed using the META-CORE model (Meta-level Conceptual, Operational, Reflective Evaluation). Based on the main findings of the ten reviewed studies, three themes were developed: (1) promotion of emotional and psychological well-being, gathering evidence that reflects subjective changes among healthcare professionals; (2) strengthening of personal resources and virtues through a process of self-perception and self-assessment within the work context; and (3) professional appreciation and a positive organizational climate. This scoping review contributes to strengthening the theoretical foundation of current attention to the situation of healthcare workers, aligning more clearly with the conceptual bases of Positive Psychology and its concern with mental health and the growing imperative to address contemporary challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare: Challenges and Perspectives from the Past to the Future)
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