Welcome to the 21st WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

Access to quality mental health care is limited for many populations, but is particularly limited for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and youth populations, racial and ethnic minorities, the socio-economically disadvantaged and rural populations. People living in Low and Middle Income Countries experience a huge treatment gap, in Colombia (a Middle Income Country) this gap is about 60%. Limited access to services is of particular concern for young people, as it is well established that 75% of the serious mental diseases and substance use problems emerge before 25 years of age. With 18M young people living in Colombia, it’s an important concern that when young people do seek and receive help, timely and evidence-based treatments are only encountered by a small proportion. Today, with ever increasing availability and use of technology, the potential to reach young people is especially promising. Dr Rangel will explain how culture, context and services availability will shape the ability of University Students to recognise mental health problems and their direct implications in the appropriate help-seeking process. Dr Ospina-Pinillos will explain how an online and non-cost emotional support program could provide first line treatments, crisis intervention, promote self-care and redirect people to appropriate services in Colombia. Finally, Dr Krausz will describe the potential of technology to help and assist young vulnerable populations in Canada and how can those be adapted to other parts of the world.