Abstract
Background: Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) policy is essential for the rational development of mental health systems for children and adolescents. However, there is a universal lack of CAMH policy, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, this review aims to identify challenges and lessons for LMICs to develop and implement CAMH policy.Methods: PubMed (1781-), MEDLINE (1950-), EMBASE (1966-), and PsycINFO (1895-) were searched from inception to December 31, 2018, for publications on CAMH policy development and/or implementation. s and main texts of articles were double screened, and extracted data were analyzed through thematic synthesis.Results: A total of 31 publications were included through the systematic review. Six major challenges were identified for CAMH policy in LMICs: (i) poor public awareness and low political willingness; (ii) stigma against mental disorders; (iii) biased culture values toward children, adolescents and CAMH, from developmental nihilism to medicalization; (iv) the lack of CAMH data and evidence, from service statistics to program evaluation; (v) the shortage of CAMH resources, including human resources, service facilities, and funding; and (vi) unintended consequence of international support, including reducing local responsibilities, planning fragmentation, and unsustainability. Six lessons to overcome challenges were summarized: (i) rethinking the concept of CAMH, (ii) encouraging a stand-alone CAMH policy and budget, (iii) involving stakeholders, (iv) reinforcing the role of research and researchers in policy process, (v) innovating the usage of human and service resources, and (vi) maximizing the positive influence of international organizations and non-governmental organizations.Conclusion: Many LMICs are still facing various challenges for their CAMH policy development and implementation. To overcome the challenges, great and long-term efforts are needed, which include great determination of from domestic and global agents, multidisciplinary innovations, and collaboration and coordination from different sectors.
Highlights
Children and adolescents constitute 44% of the world’s population [1], and 10–20% of them suffer mental health problems [2], which is a leading cause of health-related burden in this age group [3]
As the policy outcome or the progress of policy is a result of policy development and implementation, it will be more useful to examine the stages of policy development and implementation to find the reasons for unsatisfactory policy outcome
Based on literature on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) or regions, we found that LMICs are faced with the absence of Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) policy, and implementation difficulties, including the lack of feasibility and sustainability of policy [17, 18]
Summary
Children and adolescents constitute 44% of the world’s population [1], and 10–20% of them suffer mental health problems [2], which is a leading cause of health-related burden in this age group [3]. Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) policy, as a roadmap, guides the development of CAMH services [5, 6]. Realizing the importance of CAMH policy, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1977 recommended that every country throughout the world should have a National Plan for Child Mental Health. In 2005, WHO released Mental Health Policy and Service Guidance Package: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policies and Plans to help nations develop CAMH policy [8]. Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) policy is essential for the rational development of mental health systems for children and adolescents. There is a universal lack of CAMH policy, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review aims to identify challenges and lessons for LMICs to develop and implement CAMH policy
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