Developing feasible metrics for tracking mental health policy implementation

The Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences highlighted the inadequacies of mental health systems around the world. In this digital era, data around mental health services and programs are increasing and are being routinely collected. Yet it is unclear how policymakers can best make use of these data to monitor mental health policy implementation and optimize health outcomes. The current project has two objectives. The first objective is to develop a list of consensus indicators for assessing the implementation of mental health policies in resource-limited countries. We will do a scoping review of the literature and work with international experts to identify high-priority, feasible indicators that are linked to datasets that are likely to be available in most countries. The second objective is to work with stakeholders in Uganda, Nepal, and Colombia, to evaluate these proposed indicators for feasibility and relevance and identify mechanisms for using local data systems to measure them routinely. The findings of our work will be used to influence discussions around mental health measurement in advance of a United Nations High-Level Meeting in September 2025. The project will also generate preliminary data and proof-of-concept tools that can be developed further in country projects, beyond the proposed research.