Chapter 42 - Research priorities for mental health in low- and middle-income countries

Summary

A major area of concern in global health is the disparity in research between developing nations and high-income countries. In the last decade, there have been surveys, conferences, and commentaries to showcase the dearth of research activities and priorities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Prominent amongst these were the surveys carried out by the Global Forum for Research, the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the conference held by the British Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Lancet Global Mental Health series. The Lancet Global Mental Health series has contributed to the priority-setting exercises. The series pointed to deficits in evidence-based approaches to the major psychiatric disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, and mental health issues in childhood and adolescence. A recommendation for global mental health is to make civil society policy and decision makers aware of mental health issues.