Economic evaluations in global mental health

Abstract

This chapter discusses the importance of undertaking economic evaluations in mental health and the subsequent use of the results to inform policy relating to priority setting, resource allocation, or simply scaling up mental health services in low and middle income settings. We present examples o f economic evaluations conducted either alongside clinical trials or using economic models, in LAMIC. We also point out challenges that researchers in these settings may encounter and possible ways of dealing with these, but at the same time acknowledging that economic evaluation does not provide all solutions for issues facing mental health in the developing world. Access to services, affordability, equity, and stigma also need to be given a priority, while economic evaluation first needs to be understood and approved by policy makers, before it can be adopted.