The use of future studies in training for prevention and promotion in mental health.

To date, people in community development and prevention have made little use of the multidisciplinary field of future studies. This field, although ancient as speculative-literary works, is new as data-based research, such as that provided by projections, simulations, and expert estimates. On the basis of futurists' writings, this paper presents long-range, world-wide influences, such as proliferating technology, rising social expectations, and increasing interdependency, and their relation to prevention. Exercises for stimulating future thinking about prevention and promotion are described and suggestions made for further development of research and training. Finally, issues and ideologies about the future are discussed.