Mental health is an integral part of health and well-being, as reflected in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Having good mental health is essential to our personal well-being and interpersonal relationships, enabling us to contribute to our community and society, lead fulfilling lives, and realize our full potential. Evidence suggests that mental illness causes roughly one-third of disabilities in adults worldwide. Despite the large number of individuals impacted by mental illness globally, fewer than half of those affected receive medical treatment. An increasing number of individuals with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety seek complementary and alternative treatments that are not part of mainstream medical care and often involve various therapeutic techniques. While these non-conventional treatment approaches aim to achieve healing effects, there is a paucity of scientific evidence on how these treatment approaches are used and their effectiveness.
Over the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in the number of individuals seeking non-conventional treatments for mental health problems. While this trend is supported by data from the WHO, research on complementary and alternative treatments for mental health is sorely lacking. Here, mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as well as our ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Therefore, in this context, mental health is not merely about mental illness but also includes an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a collection of novel research on complementary and alternative treatment approaches that aim to improve mental health and well-being. By achieving this aim, this Research Topic will contribute to the body of scientific knowledge on:
-Modalities of complementary and alternative treatments used in clinical and non-clinical settings;
-Populations and mental health issues under study;
-Research methodology and study designs utilized;
-Efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of complementary and alternative treatments for mental health problems;
-Implementation of evidence-based practices;
-Lessons learned and future directions.
In this Research Topic, we use the term complementary and alternative approaches to represent broad treatment approaches and therapeutic techniques for mental health problems. These include, but are not limited to, alternative medical systems (e.g., Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine), mind-body interventions (e.g., meditation and mental training), biologically based therapies (e.g., herbs and nutritional supplements), manipulation therapies (e.g., chiropractic and massage), and energy therapies (e.g., healing).
Examples include:
1) Acupuncture
2) Animal-assisted therapy
3) Aromatherapy
4) Dietary supplements
5) Drama therapy or art therapy in general
6) Massage therapy
7) Indigenous medicine and earth medicine
8) Meditation
9) Music therapy
We are interested in how such non-conventional treatments have been applied to mental health promotion, improvement, recovery, and healing. We welcome papers that involve any complementary and alternative treatment approaches for mental health problems, use quantitative and/or qualitative approaches, as well as research conducted in various settings such as clinics, communities, and homes. We welcome papers that target vulnerable populations such as children, people with special or diverse needs, or prisoners. Papers are also welcomed from a wide range of disciplines. We hope this section will offer a special opportunity for researchers to submit and publish their high-quality studies.
Mental health is an integral part of health and well-being, as reflected in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Having good mental health is essential to our personal well-being and interpersonal relationships, enabling us to contribute to our community and society, lead fulfilling lives, and realize our full potential. Evidence suggests that mental illness causes roughly one-third of disabilities in adults worldwide. Despite the large number of individuals impacted by mental illness globally, fewer than half of those affected receive medical treatment. An increasing number of individuals with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety seek complementary and alternative treatments that are not part of mainstream medical care and often involve various therapeutic techniques. While these non-conventional treatment approaches aim to achieve healing effects, there is a paucity of scientific evidence on how these treatment approaches are used and their effectiveness.
Over the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in the number of individuals seeking non-conventional treatments for mental health problems. While this trend is supported by data from the WHO, research on complementary and alternative treatments for mental health is sorely lacking. Here, mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as well as our ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Therefore, in this context, mental health is not merely about mental illness but also includes an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a collection of novel research on complementary and alternative treatment approaches that aim to improve mental health and well-being. By achieving this aim, this Research Topic will contribute to the body of scientific knowledge on:
-Modalities of complementary and alternative treatments used in clinical and non-clinical settings;
-Populations and mental health issues under study;
-Research methodology and study designs utilized;
-Efficacy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of complementary and alternative treatments for mental health problems;
-Implementation of evidence-based practices;
-Lessons learned and future directions.
In this Research Topic, we use the term complementary and alternative approaches to represent broad treatment approaches and therapeutic techniques for mental health problems. These include, but are not limited to, alternative medical systems (e.g., Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine), mind-body interventions (e.g., meditation and mental training), biologically based therapies (e.g., herbs and nutritional supplements), manipulation therapies (e.g., chiropractic and massage), and energy therapies (e.g., healing).
Examples include:
1) Acupuncture
2) Animal-assisted therapy
3) Aromatherapy
4) Dietary supplements
5) Drama therapy or art therapy in general
6) Massage therapy
7) Indigenous medicine and earth medicine
8) Meditation
9) Music therapy
We are interested in how such non-conventional treatments have been applied to mental health promotion, improvement, recovery, and healing. We welcome papers that involve any complementary and alternative treatment approaches for mental health problems, use quantitative and/or qualitative approaches, as well as research conducted in various settings such as clinics, communities, and homes. We welcome papers that target vulnerable populations such as children, people with special or diverse needs, or prisoners. Papers are also welcomed from a wide range of disciplines. We hope this section will offer a special opportunity for researchers to submit and publish their high-quality studies.
