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Dr. Markvan Ommeren, Head of the Mental Health Division of the World Health Organization, visited the Chinese Psychological Society

On the afternoon of November 10, 2023, Dr. Mark van Ommeren, Head of the Mental Health Division at the World Health Organization (WHO), and Dr. Craig Hodges, Director of the National Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health (ORYGENGLOBAL) in Australia, along with their delegation, paid a visit to the Chinese Psychological Society (CPS). The visit focused on sharing working experiences, typical cases, and research findings in the field of mental health and mental health services. Discussions were held on the key areas and strategies for the development of mental health services, as well as exploring avenues for strengthening international cooperation and exchanges to advance mental health development. Additionally, there was discussion on leveraging multiple resources to promote the application of Problem Manager+ (PM+) in China. The seminar was chaired by Wu Kankan, Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the Working Committee of Psychological Crisis Intervention of the CPS.
Scene of the meeting

Sun Xianghong, Secretary-General of the CPS, Wang Li, Deputy Secretary-General, Liu Xun, Director of the Working Committee on International Academic Exchange, Huang Duan, Director of the Division of Scientific Research Operations at the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Dr. Chen Zhongdan, Senior Officer of the WHO Representative Office in China, and project team member of the Problem Manager+ Application (PM+) participated in the meeting.

After receiving an overview of the CPS and the Institute of Psychology, CAS, Dr. Mark delivered a keynote addressing the “Current situation and development trends of global mental health services.” He highlighted the growing global concern regarding mental health issues. Dr. Mark emphasized the distinction between monitoring, assessing, and intervening in the mental health of the general population versus diagnosing and treating mental disorders. He underscored the need for substantial psychological efforts and the establishment of community-based care models to promote mental health. Despite variations across countries and regions, there is a widespread scarcity of resources, a shortage of professionals, and limited universal access to mental health services.

Dr. Mark underscored the significant impact of technological advancements on mental health services, highlighting the application of cutting-edge technologies such as telepsychological counseling, virtual reality therapy, and intelligent assisted diagnosis. He expressed optimism that these technologies will enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health services. Dr. Mark emphasized the importance of cross-border and cross-discipline cooperation to leverage collective wisdom in researching solutions and driving innovation in mental health services. He also recognized the effectiveness of PM+ in China, particularly in areas related to psychosocial assistance and mental health services, as presented by Qian Wei, Executive Head of the Problem Manager (PM+) China Application. Dr. Mark expressed interest in receiving written reports on related work, anticipating that China’s efforts and findings will provide valuable insights and inspiration for mental health initiatives in other countries and regions.

Dr. Mark giving a keynote presentation
Dr. Hodges delivered a presentation on “ORYGENGLOBAL’s innovations in youth mental health care”. He outlined ORYGENGLOBAL’s efforts as an international organization dedicated to youth mental health, focusing on identifying and addressing youth mental health issues to preventing further deterioration. Dr. Hodges highlighted the utilization of advanced technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to personalize treatment and offer support to adolescents, with the aim of enhancing treatment outcomes.
Dr. Craig giving a keynote presentation.

After the meeting, Dr. Mark and Dr. Hodges visited the “Psychological Dream Factory,” a science popularization base of the Institute of Psychology, CAS. They engaged in a warm discussion with the participants, focusing on deepening future cooperation and seeking common development.

The exchange further solidified the collaborative relationship between the Society and international organizations. As Dr. Chen Zhongdan, senior official of the WHO Representative Office in China, expressed, we anticipate further enhancing cooperation between the two sides in the future. We aim to leverage our respective strengths and facilitate the application of more concepts, findings, and experiences of the WHO to advance the development of mental health initiatives in China.