Abstract
This chapter describes evidence-based mental health policy with the help of illustrative examples. After briefly setting the use of research evidence to inform mental health policy within the broader historical context, the second section of the chapter provides a brief description of evidence-based mental health policy and its rationale. The third section illustrates how mental health research may help inform mental health policy, with a description of the research cycle, the policy cycle, their relationship, and the use of epidemiological studies for policymaking. The fourth section provides examples of the use of research evidence in mental health policy at different organizational levels, from the clinical level (micro-level), through the service provision/healthcare facility level (meso-level) and the whole health system level (macro-level), to the global level (mega-level). Finally, the chapter concludes by reflecting on some of the opportunities and challenges that influence evidence-based mental health policy.
Highlights
The use of research evidence to inform decisions related to health has been growing since the 1990s
In the fourth section we provide examples of the use of research in mental health policy at different organizational levels
Following recommendations of the National Service Framework for Mental Health (NSF-MH), assertive community treatment (ACT) teams were introduced in England to reduce inpatient admissions of people suffering with severe mental disorders, a high use of inpatient care but difficult engagement with standard mental health services
Summary
The use of research evidence to inform decisions related to health has been growing since the 1990s. Since 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stressed the importance of putting research into action (WHO, 2004a), supporting evidence-based public health, health services, and health policies (WHO, 2004b). In this view, the WHO has been advocating for the importance of establishing or strengthening knowledge translation of research results to different stakeholders (WHO, 2005a), especially focusing upon the need to pay attention to the diversity of languages and the use of information technologies (WHO, 2009). This chapter considers evidence-based mental health policymaking with the help of illustrative examples. Of the chapter we shall provide a brief description of evidence-based mental health policy and its rationale. We reflect on the opportunities and challenges of evidence-based mental health policy in the future
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 call
