COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING: APPROACHES, CHALLENGES, AND THE PATH FORWARD

Abstract

Community mental health has become central to addressing the global treatment gap and promoting psychological well-being among the public. This chapter examines the shift from institution-based care to community-based approaches, with specific relevance to low- and middle-income countries like in India. It begins by outlining the conceptual foundations of community mental health services and psychological well-being, and how these two are interconnected. This chapter then reviews key approaches and models which include integration with primary health care, task-shifting to community health workers, peer support, and the continuum of promotion, prevention, and treatment in the field of mental health. It further analyzes the social determinants which shape community well-being such as social support, stigma, poverty, access, and culture. Major challenges which include resource gaps, workforce shortages, urban-rural divide, weak policy implementation and broken programmes are discussed. Finally, the chapter proposes a way forward through stronger integration with primary care, scaling of digital mental health, and inclusive policy directions for better improvement. This chapter argues that sustainable progress requires embedding mental health within communities and addressing social determinants alongside clinical services, to ensure that psychological well-being becomes a right accessible to all.