scholarly journals Addressing the mental health needs of a rapidly growing megacity: the new Lagos Mental Health Initiative

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-22
Author(s):  
Olufemi Oluwatayo ◽  
Olufemi Olugbile ◽  
Ayodele Coker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
State Government ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Initiative ◽  
Lagos State

The Lagos State Government of Nigeria recently launched its Mental Health Policy and Work Plan aimed at addressing the mental health needs of Lagos, one of the world's fastest-growing megacities, and its nearby communities. This paper discusses the contextual basis of this initiative, its components and the challenges faced so far. It argues that urban centres deserve attention in the current push towards investing in mental health services in low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Child and adolescent mental health services in Pakistan: current situation, future directions and possible solutions

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 86-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faria Khan ◽  
R. K. Shehzad ◽  
Haroon R. Chaudhry
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Initial Survey

Worldwide, mental disorders are on the increase (Gadit, 2007) and an estimated 10-20% of children have one or more mental or behavioural problems (Park, 2002). There is an urgent and serious need to pay attention to the mental health needs of children in low- and middle-income countries (Rahman et al, 2000). The initial survey for the World Health Organization's Atlas project (Sherer, 2002) showed that 41% of countries surveyed had no mental health policy and 28% had no separate budget for mental health.

scholarly journals Meeting the mental health needs of low- and middle-income countries: the start of a long journey

BJPsych Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Kisely ◽  
Dan Siskind
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Worker Retention ◽  
Improve Health ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Summary Mental health is increasingly recognised as an important component of global health. In recognition of this fact, the European Union funded the Emerald programme (Emerging Mental Health Systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries). The aims were to improve mental health in the following six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. The Emerald programme offers valuable insights into addressing the mental health needs of LMICs. It provides a framework and practical tools. However, it will be important to evaluate longer-term effects including improvements in mental health outcomes, as well as the applicability to LMICs beyond existing participant countries. Importantly, this must be coupled with efforts to improve health worker retention in LMICs.

scholarly journals Integration of mental healthcare into primary healthcare in Lagos, Nigeria: the way forward

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayodele O. Coker ◽  
Olufemi B. Olugbile ◽  
Olufemi Oluwatayo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
The State ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Treatment Gap ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Lagos State

The Lagos State Ministry of Health recently launched its Mental Health Policy aimed at addressing the mental health needs the residents of the State. The policy also aimed at reducing the mental disorders treatment gap in the state by integrating mental healthcare into the primary healthcare in order to make mental healthcare services closer and accessible for residents of the State. This paper therefore critically reviews the rationale for the integration, magnitude of problems in Lagos State with regards to mental healthcare services, available resources, challenges in providing mental healthcare services, recommendations for successful integration, the necessary advocacy needed to implement the integration and benefits of the integration.

Policy and public mental health in low- and middle-income countries

2018 ◽  
pp. 539-548
Author(s):  
Laura Shields ◽  
Soumitra Pathare ◽  
Pallavi Karnatak ◽  
Keshav Desiraju
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Inclusive Policy ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs) often struggle with the development and implementation of mental health policy. Mental health policy is a complex concept affected by social, political and economic factors, and influenced by the third sector, patient and family organisations. A challenge is ensuring regular review of policies to reflect changing demographics and contextual factors. Many non-governmental organizations, researchers, implementation specialists, and advocates contributed and supported the development, implementation, customization, and evaluation of mental health policy documents in LAMICs. These developments keep public mental health and prevention of mental disorders central to the policy-making process. The development of a good mental health policy requires (a) defining goals and specific targets, (b) establishing an inclusive policy process which involves all stakeholders involved in or affected directly or indirectly by mental ill-health (c) setting a time frame for the implementation of policies and also for review and renewal.

scholarly journals Mental health system governance in Nigeria: challenges, opportunities and strategies for improvement

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Abdulmalik ◽  
L. Kola ◽  
O. Gureje
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health System Governance ◽  
Low And Middle Income

IntroductionA health systems approach to understanding efforts for improving health care services is gaining traction globally. A component of this approach focuses on health system governance (HSG), which can make or mar the successful implementation of health care interventions. Very few studies have explored HSG in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Studies focusing on mental health system governance, are even more of a rarity. This study evaluates the mental HSG of Nigeria with a view to understanding the challenges, opportunities and strategies for strengthening it.MethodologyThis study was conducted as part of the project, Emerging Mental Health Systems in Low and Middle Income Countries (Emerald). A multi-method study design was utilized to evaluate the mental HSG status of Nigeria. A situational analysis of the health policy and legal environment in the country was performed. Subsequently, 30 key informant interviews were conducted at national, state and district levels to explore the country's mental HSG.ResultsThe existing policy, legislative and institutional framework for HSG in Nigeria reveals a complete exclusion of mental health in key health sector documents. The revised mental health policy is however promising. Using the Siddiqi framework categories, we identified pragmatic strategies for mental health system strengthening that include a consideration of existing challenges and opportunities within the system.ConclusionThe identified strategies provide a template for the subsequent activities of the Emerald Programme (and other interventions), towards strengthening the mental health system of Nigeria.

Mental health and its social determinants

2018 ◽  
pp. 459-464
Author(s):  
Mirai Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Emerging Countries ◽  
The Self ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Primary Care Settings ◽  
Services Integration

Women show higher rates of many psychiatric disorders. They also look after ill family members, adding to their distress and stress. They are more likely to face poor social conditions such as overcrowding poverty and insecure employment. The Self Employed Women’s’ Association was established nearly 50 years ago. It supports and empowers women and this chapters draws some observations that may help others in low- and middle-income countries. The chapter illustrates a need for major changes in mental health policy and implementation, especially in relation to health care in primary care settings with appropriate access to referral services. Integration of public health and primary care is a possible option. Policymakers and legislators in India and other emerging countries need to work with civil society and localpeople to develop and deliver ways in which social determinants of mental health can be addressed, and with peopleat the centre of all efforts.

scholarly journals Child and adolescent psychiatry services in low- and middle-income countries

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Skuse
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Child And Adolescent Psychiatry ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Child Psychiatric ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The theme in this issue concerns the interface between child psychiatric services in low- and middle-income countries and the availability of such services in higher-income countries. In neither context are such services ideal, and resources are relatively slim when compared with demand. The key issues are discussed in three terms: first, of the need for nations to have a general statement of child and adolescent mental health policy (Shatkin et al); second, of the need to establish inter national child and mental health research networks to foster research in low- and middle-income countries (Erlich & Plener); and third, of the circumstances that exist for providing such support to children in one such country, Pakistan (Khan et al).

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