Mental health apps (MHAs) are increasingly popular in India due to rising mental health awareness and app accessibility. Despite their benefits, like mood tracking, sleep tools and virtual therapy, MHAs lack regulatory oversight. India's framework, including the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and Medical Device Rules 2017, does not cover standalone health apps, raising concerns about data privacy and accuracy. Establishing a centralised regulatory body with guidelines for MHAs is essential for user safety and efficacy. This paper examines the current regulatory landscape, compares international approaches and proposes a tiered regulatory framework to foster responsible innovation while safeguarding user interests in digital mental health services.

We synthesise perinatal mental health (PMH) evidence and provide recommendations for future research and practices in Pakistan. The burden is significantly higher relative to many other countries, with adverse effects on women and children. Few locally developed interventions involving non-specialists have shown promise, but integrating these into maternal and child health services (MCH) at scale remains a challenge. We recommend broadening the scope of PMH research in accordance with the World Health Organization's stepped care model, and advancing the use of implementation science, digital technology and exploring low-cost models. Programmes and policies should prioritise incorporating PMH into MCH services in health planning and budgeting.

This paper aims to give an overview of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Aotearoa New Zealand. We provide a brief overview of the demographics of the country and include the most up-to-date epidemiological data on child and adolescent mental health. To meet these psychiatric needs, we consider the present workforce, governance, funding and structure of CAMHS. Current psychiatric practice is heavily influenced by the country's unique history and cultural mix. Aotearoa New Zealand is noted for outstanding epidemiological research.

Uzbekistan's mental health system is undergoing significant reform aimed at improving care and service delivery. This article provides a comprehensive evaluation of the current state of Uzbekistan's mental health system using the WHO 2010 monitoring and evaluation framework. It also details ongoing reforms designed to address systemic issues, enhance mental healthcare and ensure better health outcomes for the population.

Through their study, George Ikkos & Nick Bouras reveal that the responsibilities of the psychiatric community are increasingly complex, especially amid the onslaught of globalisation and the confines of neoliberalism. ‘Metacommunity’ in this context refers not only to the history of psychiatrists but their role in strengthening and influencing mental health policies. A number of challenges continue to emerge in the public sphere, highlighting the need for psychiatry to adapt to society's evolving demands for inclusivity, equity and ethical governance. These challenges emphasise the importance of shaping the future of psychiatry that is responsive to the complexities of mental health care and aligned with democratic principles that prioritise transparency and social accountability. We have added several aspects that could complement psychiatrists' future theory and practice, including a more collaborative and evidence-based approach to dealing with increasingly complex mental health issues.

Previous research has focused on the significance of occupational burnout and the role of emotional intelligence and poor coping abilities among physicians.

Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of occupational burnout among first-year medical residents in Oman, exploring the relationship between trait emotional intelligence subscales and the three dimensions of burnout syndrome, and examining the association between sociodemographic covariates and the three dimensions of burnout syndrome.

The outcome measures included various indices of the abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEI) and its subscales were examined.

The data showed a high burnout rate of 25.8%. Specifically, among the residents, 57.5% reported high levels of emotional exhaustion, 50.8% reported high depersonalisation and 49.2% reported a low sense of personal achievement. Age was significantly associated with depersonalisation (P < 0.003) and personal achievement (P < 0.0001). Marital status was the only variable significantly associated with emotional exhaustion (P = 0.001). Single residents had considerably lower emotional exhaustion than married residents (P = 0.001). The global mean score for the TEI was 4.77 (±0.64). A statistically significant relationship was found between personal achievement and emotional intelligence (r = 0.203, P = 0.026).

This perspective article addresses the critical issue of equitable access to sustainable healthcare services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite the increasing prevalence of ASD globally, significant disparities persist in accessing appropriate healthcare services. The lack of comprehensive data on autism prevalence and incidence in many regions further exacerbates this challenge, hindering the development of targeted interventions and equitable resource allocation. This paper sheds light on barriers to equitable access, including geographical disparities, cultural stigma, communication barriers and inadequate training of healthcare providers. Strategies for achieving sustainable solutions are proposed, including the expansion of telehealth services, financial assistance programmes, competency training, community-based support programmes and investment in high-quality research. By addressing these challenges and implementing evidence-based interventions, we can work towards ensuring that all children with autism have access to the healthcare services they need for optimal development and well-being.

The number of people living in Palestine with mental disorders is significantly higher than the global average. Military occupation, violence and poverty contribute to collective trauma. International agencies have emphasised the need for collective action and systemic solutions. The Ministry of Health in Palestine, Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Royal College of Psychiatrists have collaborated to develop a national strategy for child and adolescent mental health, enhance psychiatric training and improve electroconvulsive therapy provision. The article details how this collaboration has demonstrated partnership and local ownership to empower Palestinian communities to make sustainable mental healthcare improvements.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a ten-item standardised questionnaire to assess an individual's vulnerability to alcohol use disorders. Three of these ten questions are related to alcohol consumption. Nepal has a distinct alcohol culture, where alcohol use is socially and religiously acceptable in some caste/ethnic groups and is prohibited in others, thereby influencing the scores of AUDIT questions related to all three conceptual domains. Identifying and endorsing subsets of AUDIT questions relevant to different ethnic groups could be the way forward for effective screening of alcohol use disorders in Nepal.

Commonly occurring mental health disorders have been well studied in terms of epidemiology, presentation, risk factors and management. However, rare or uncommon mental health disorders and events are harder to study. One way to do this is active surveillance. This article summarises how the Royal College of Psychiatrists Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System was developed, as well as the key studies that have used the system and their impact, to make the case for a wider international surveillance unit for child and adolescent psychiatry. Keeping this surveillance active in different populations across the globe will add to existing knowledge and understanding of these uncommon disorders and events. This will in turn help in developing better frameworks for the identification and management for these disorders and events. It will also facilitate the sharing of ideas regarding current methodology, ethics, the most appropriate means of evaluating units and their potential applications.

This paper reviews the development of Aotearoa-New Zealand’s (New Zealand’s) specialist Mental Health and Addiction Services (MH&A Services) and Mental Health and Addiction plans (MH&A Plans) to improve the mental well-being of all New Zealanders. It does so in the context of New Zealand’s 2022 health reforms, and the government’s response to its 2018 Inquiry into MH&A (He Ara Oranga). First, the context for reform is described, including New Zealand’s sociodemography, existing data monitoring systems, mental health epidemiology and a current overview of its specialist MH&A Services. The findings of the He Ara Oranga Inquiry and the goals of the MH&A plans are then outlined, along with progress in establishing new initiatives related to them. Finally, challenges to the new direction for New Zealand’s MH&A system are reviewed, with possible strategies to address them and other key implementation challenges involving the separation and operationalisation of the main strategies of MH&A plans. A high-level view of MH&A Services is taken, rather than one detailing speciality services such as age-related, cultural or addiction services.

The South Asian region, including India, faces an increased prevalence of illicit drug use. Key challenges include rising opioid use, injecting drug use and spread of stimulant use from some pockets to other regions of the country. Challenges faced are poor surveillance, lack of evidence-based and structured prevention programmes, wide treatment gaps and inadequate social capital for reintegration of substance users into society. The drug control efforts in India have resulted in an improved drug offence surveillance system, increased community awareness, a growing network of drug treatment centres and resource-building measures. India has made pioneering efforts in the field of harm reduction in the South Asian region. The steps taken have the potential of applicability across other South Asian, as well as most low- and middle-income, countries around the world.

Burnout is a common issue among healthcare professionals and can have a negative impact on both personal and professional well-being. This initiative follows a group of doctors working in Buckinghamshire, UK, who are at moderate to high risk of burnout, over 6 months to determine whether participation in a movie club, as a form of stress relief and social support, can have a positive impact on well-being. The aim of the project was to investigate the impact on doctors’ well-being by improving connectedness, reducing the feeling of isolation and encouraging face-to-face activities.