Estimating service coverage for severe mental disorders

Mental disorders are currently under-treated globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, devised in 2015, make specific reference to universal health care for mental disorders. Thus, in an attempt to track progress toward this target and to ultimately improve mental health and wellbeing, there is a need for identification and measurement of mechanisms for scaling-up evidence-based treatment and mental health services.

In collaboration with WHO, we are developing a methodological framework to integrate, validate, and analyse relevant data in order to produce a model of service coverage on a global scale. This will provide a consistent and comparative metric that can quantify the public health impact of limited mental health services and eventually inform mental health policy and planning agendas. The resulting data will be used to improve monitoring of and reporting on health systems, resulting in quality, timely, and relevant data needed for progression of reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Lead investigator
Fiona Charlson

Funded by
NHMRC Early Career Fellowship – APP1138488

In partnership with
World Health Organisation

CURRENT

COMPLETED