A Global Context for Population Mental Health: Commentary on Dodge et al. (2024)

Dodge et al. (2024) outlined the gap between population mental health needs and the current capacity of the U.S. health care system to provide necessary services. We add international examples and a global perspective to their observations. Unlike some nations, the mental health needs in the United States occur in the context of privatized, for-profit health care. Nations that offer population-based mental health services may have achieved greater success through the use of nontraditional providers and by leveraging technology. We suggest that both proactive and preventive interventions are needed to build a mentally healthy ecosystem in the United States.