*By Ariane Gagliardi
In recent years, mental health has emerged as a global priority, with growing awareness of the need for adequate care and services. In Brazil, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that 5.81% of the population, equivalent to 11.7 million people, suffer from depression, making the country the leader in cases in Latin America. At a continental level, Brazil is second only to the United States, where, according to the WHO, 5.91% of the population suffers from depressive disorders.
This complex scenario places significant pressure on healthcare professionals, especially those working on the front lines of primary care, who already have a heavy workload when practicing general medicine. Proof of this is a study carried out by the Federal University of São Carlos (USFCAR), which followed healthcare workers between 2021 and 2022, and revealed that 86% of the interviewees suffered from burnout, while 81% had high levels of stress.
Unfortunately, these primary care professionals often lack the expertise to also address mental health issues, facing challenges such as lack of training and limited time and resources. This is because the stigma associated with mental disorders, the diversity of symptoms, and the need for individualized approaches are all factors that impact the work of physicians. In addition, many patients are reluctant to seek help or discuss their problems openly, which also makes diagnosis and treatment more difficult.
Technology and mental health: how to benefit from this indispensable ally
The good news is that forward-thinking institutions and experts are finding actionable solutions to the mental health crisis by leveraging an indispensable ally: technology. Digital tools and platforms clinical decision support are facilitators in overcoming these challenges by providing immediate access to up-to-date, evidence-based information, which allows doctors to make accurate diagnoses and develop effective treatment plans, even in highly complex situations.
An even bigger advantage is the ability to use interactive algorithms to speed up the decision-making process. The most advanced solutions integrate with electronic records, allowing healthcare professionals to quickly discover which side effects or comorbidities they need to be aware of, without having to sort through and digest a wealth of information for each patient. These tools also ensure that the entire clinical team has consistent references for information, streamlining the execution of the care plan and reducing errors that harm patient outcomes.
The effectiveness of these solutions has already been proven around the world. A study published by the National Library of Medicine, which involved 97 people with serious mental illnesses who used a care system, revealed that patients increased primary care visits and significantly improved physical health goals regarding cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides and BMI (Body Mass Index).
In Brazil, where the demand for mental health services outstrips the supply, these tools are especially valuable. They allow clinicians in a variety of specialties, including those in rural and under-resourced areas, to have access to the same information as their colleagues in large urban centers. This contributes to a more equitable and efficient approach to treating mental disorders.
To give you an idea, a survey carried out by the Instituto República.org based on data from the National Registry of Health Establishments (CNES), shows that there are only 19 psychologists for every 100,000 inhabitants in the SUS (Unified Health System) in Brazil, while in some European countries this number of professionals is higher than 40 for every 100,000 inhabitants.
As we continue to face increasing challenges in mental health, it is therefore critical to leverage technological innovations to deliver better, more efficient care to patients.
Integrating technology and mental health into professionals’ daily lives can transform the way the subject is approached, providing essential support in clinical decision-making while also facilitating doctors’ routines. In a world where the right information can make all the difference, these solutions become not only useful, but indispensable.
*Ariane Gagliardi is Commercial Manager at Wolters Kluwer Health in Brazil.
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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