Besides addressing the increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders, social challenges, and building community resilience during the crisis, mental health professionals (MHPs) are in a unique position to assist the vaccination drive against coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in various nations. Vaccination programs are adversely affected by misinformation, fake news and vaccine hesitancy fuelled by social media. MHPs can enable this vital public health strategy by prioritizing vaccination for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders, promote awareness and public education, debunk misinformation and integrate psychosocial care into the vaccination drives. In order to target the health inequity and discrimination faced by people with SMI coupled with their additional risks, the authors urge the global mental health fraternity to tailor these crucial roles with respect to COVID-19 vaccination based on the regional needs and contexts.
【저자키워드】 vaccination, COVID-19 pandemic, mental health professionals, public mental health, psychiatrists, Severe mental illness, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, public health, Resilience, coronavirus, mental health, media, Vaccine hesitancy, substance use disorders, Prevalence, Health, COVID-19 vaccination, Community, Psychiatric disorders, Care, mental health professional, individual, mental illness, affected, unique, promote, assist, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, mental health professional,