Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture, Nutrition and Health Actions (IMMANA), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Global Mental Health Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
Front Public Health. 2021 Oct 8;9:722290. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.722290. eCollection 2021.
Both malnutrition and poor mental health are leading sources of global mortality, disease, and disability. The fields of global food security and nutrition (FSN) and mental health have historically been seen as separate fields of research. Each have undergone substantial transformation, especially from clinical, primary care orientations to wider, sociopolitical approaches to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. In recent years, the trajectories of research on mental health and FSN are further evolving into an intersection of evidence. FSN impacts mental health through various pathways such as food insecurity and nutrients important for neurotransmission. Mental health drives FSN outcomes, for example through loss of motivation and caregiving capacities. They are also linked through a complex and interrelated set of determinants. However, the heterogeneity of the evidence base limits inferences about these important dynamics. Furthermore, interdisciplinary projects and programmes are gaining ground in methodology and impact, but further guidance in integration is much needed. An evidence-driven conceptual framework should inform hypothesis testing and programme implementation. The intersection of mental health and FSN can be an opportunity to invest holistically in advancing thinking in both fields.
营养不良和心理健康不良都是全球死亡、疾病和残疾的主要原因。全球粮食安全和营养 (FSN) 领域和心理健康领域历来被视为两个独立的研究领域。它们都经历了重大变革，特别是从临床、初级保健方向转变为更广泛的社会政治方法，以实现可持续发展目标。近年来，心理健康和 FSN 研究的轨迹进一步演变为证据的交叉点。FSN 通过多种途径影响心理健康，例如食物不安全和对神经传递很重要的营养物质。心理健康也会影响 FSN 的结果，例如通过丧失动力和照顾能力。它们还通过一系列复杂且相互关联的决定因素联系在一起。然而，证据基础的异质性限制了对这些重要动态的推断。此外，跨学科项目和计划在方法和影响方面都取得了进展，但在整合方面仍需要更多指导。一个由证据驱动的概念框架应该为假设检验和方案实施提供信息。心理健康和 FSN 的交叉点可以为全面投资提供机会，以推进这两个领域的思维。
