Purpose
This paper aims to recommend implementation of the knowledge management (KM) strategy for a mental health organisation, an area that has, to date, limited attention in literature based on the factors that influence KM success.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-methods research was conducted to identify the organisational culture, resources, enablers and the influential factors of mental health knowledge management (MHKM). The data were collected in five referral mental hospitals and were analysed using quantitative, qualitative and triangulation methods.
Findings
The organisational culture has become a great barrier. Forty-three influential factors were identified. Otherwise, based on culture, resources, enablers and strengthen, weakness, opportunities and threaten (SWOT) analysed were adopted to propose ten of the critical success factors and were recommended into an implementation strategy.
Research limitations/implications
The paper has proven that KM is a new and emerging discipline in Indonesia, especially on mental health care. This will contribute to the governmental policy of KM implementation and enforce the quality of services.
Practical implications
This result has the potential to leverage interdisciplinary KM research. It supports a mental health organisation in applying KM.
Originality/value
This study is probably the first to analyse factors that are of influence in an MHKM initiative programme.