Abstract
BackgroundLittle is known about the interventions required to build the capacity of mental health policy-makers and planners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We conducted a systematic review with the primary aim of identifying and synthesizing the evidence base for building the capacity of policy-makers and planners to strengthen mental health systems in LMICs.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, LILACS, ScieELO, Google Scholar and Cochrane databases for studies reporting evidence, experience or evaluation of capacity-building of policy-makers, service planners or managers in mental health system strengthening in LMICs. Reports in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or German were included. Additional papers were identified by hand-searching references and contacting experts and key informants. Database searches yielded 2922 abstracts and 28 additional papers were identified. Following screening, 409 full papers were reviewed, of which 14 fulfilled inclusion criteria for the review. Data were extracted from all included papers and synthesized into a narrative review.ResultsOnly a small number of mental health system-related capacity-building interventions for policy-makers and planners in LMICs were described. Most models of capacity-building combined brief training with longer term mentorship, dialogue and/or the establishment of networks of support. However, rigorous research and evaluation methods were largely absent, with studies being of low quality, limiting the potential to separate mental health system strengthening outcomes from the effects of associated contextual factors.ConclusionsThis review demonstrates the need for partnership approaches to building the capacity of mental health policy-makers and planners in LMICs, assessed rigorously against pre-specified conceptual frameworks and hypotheses, utilising longitudinal evaluation and mixed quantitative and qualitative approaches.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1853-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Little is known about the interventions required to build the capacity of mental health policy-makers and planners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
The review set out to include any type of study design, review or report on the evidence, experience or evaluation of capacity-building of policy-makers, service planners or managers in mental health system strengthening in LMICs
Our study demonstrates that a restricted number of capacity-building interventions for policy-makers and planners in LMICs to strengthen mental health systems have been developed, implemented, evaluated and described in published literature
Summary
Little is known about the interventions required to build the capacity of mental health policy-makers and planners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We conducted a systematic review with the primary aim of identifying and synthesizing the evidence base for building the capacity of policy-makers and planners to strengthen mental health systems in LMICs. The global burden of mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders is high, resulting from chronic disability combined with premature mortality [1, 2]. The majority of people with MNS disorders in LMICs are unable to access effective mental health care, with the treatment gap higher than 90 % in some low-income countries [5]. Health system constraints are potent threats to the scale-up of evidence-based mental health care for people affected by MNS disorders in LMICs [6]. In a mixed-methods report of implementing a national mental health policy in South Africa, barriers included the relatively low priority given to mental health care by planners, provincial bureaucracy around service coordination, insufficient staff for policy-making and service planning, and disinclination by some local authorities to lead mental health policy implementation [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
