International observatory on mental health systems: structure and operation

Harry Minas

doi:10.1186/1752-4458-3-8

Abstract

IntroductionSustained cooperative action is required to improve the mental health of populations, particularly in low and middle-income countries where meagre mental health investment and insufficient human and other resources result in poorly performing mental health systems.The ObservatoryThe International Observatory on Mental Health Systems is a mental health systems research, education and development network that will contribute to the development of high quality mental health systems in low and middle-income countries. The work of the Observatory will be done by mental health systems research, education and development groups that are located in and managed by collaborating organisations. These groups will be supported by the IOMHS Secretariat, the International IOMHS Steering Group and a Technical Reference Group.SummaryThe International Observatory on Mental Health Systems is: 1) the mental health systems research, education and development groups; 2) the IOMHS Steering Group; 3) the IOMHS Technical Reference Group; and 4) the IOMHS Secretariat. The work of the Observatory will depend on free and open collaboration, sharing of knowledge and skills, and governance arrangements that are inclusive and that put the needs and interests of people with mental illness and their families at the centre of decision-making. We welcome contact from individuals and institutions that wish to contribute to achieving the goals of the Observatory.Now is the time to make it happen where it matters, by turning scientific knowledge into effective action for people's health. (J.W. Lee, in his acceptance speech on his appointment as the Director-General of the World Health Organization) [1].

Highlights

Sustained cooperative action is required to improve the mental health of populations, in low and middle-income countries where meagre mental health investment and insufficient human and other resources result in poorly performing mental health systems.The Observatory: The International Observatory on Mental Health Systems is a mental health systems research, education and development network that will contribute to the development of high quality mental health systems in low and middle-income countries
Sustained cooperative action is required to improve the mental health of populations everywhere [2]
This is so in low and middle-income countries where mental health system performance is poor as a result of meagre mental health investment [3,4] and strikingly insufficient and inequitably distributed human and other resources [5,6]

Summary

Introduction

Sustained cooperative action is required to improve the mental health of populations everywhere [2]. In many low and middle-income countries there is not a formal system in place for review of the ethical dimensions of proposed research projects, whether the research is being conducted by local or international organisations Where this is the situation the collaborating organisations in which the mental health systems research groups are located will promote and support the establishment of ethics review procedures that protect the rights of all concerned, and ensure the ethical conduct of research and of the use of research findings. We would welcome contact from academic and other institutions that may wish to establish a mental health systems research, education and development group and to become active collaborators in the IOMHS network. The collaboration must be equal, with the interests and health needs of the population in the low and middleincome countries being of paramount importance

Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

Minas H

Findings

14. International Diploma in Mental Health Law and Human