Caring for mental health in the self-preservation strategies of Russians

Negative dynamics of the population's mental health indicators in the last decade has formed a discourse in the scientific community about a "silent pandemic" that requires consolidation of state, public, group and individual efforts to prevent mental disorders. Self-care focused on prevention, recognition and coping with negative symptomatology is seen as a basic condition for successful counteraction to stress, anxiety and depression. The present study, implemented in the paradigm of mixed methods research, attempts to describe the everyday practices of Russians in the sphere of mental health care. Based on the analysis of 39 semi-structured interviews conducted in the fall of 2023 with residents of Russian megacities, five groups of caring practices were identified: 1) social practices, 2) psychological (seeking professional help, psychological self-help), 3) spiritual / meditative practices, 4) physical (sports, walking), 5) recreational, 6) taking medicines / folk remedies, 7) work (as a way to "switch"), 8) destructive practices (alcohol consumption, smoking). Using content analysis of health discourse in social media for the period from January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2023 (n=144906 messages), we assessed the prevalence and dynamics of the highlighted groups of practices. Taking care of mental health consists predominantly in various forms of physical activity, as well as "destructive" practices (alcohol consumption, stress eating). In the "post-pandemic" period, caring practices are more individualized and medicalized, but not professionalized, and the discourse about them becomes more reflexive. In general, the prevention of mental disorders is not included in the core of Russians' self-preservation strategies, which actualizes the question of the need to improve the system of risk communication and attracting effective tools to motivate self-care.