Section 3 - Systems of development

Summary

Several studies conducted in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have contributed to the body of knowledge on the root causes of poor availability of the mental health workforce. The emigration of mental health professionals from countries of low and middle income, along with rural-to- urban migration, constrains development of human resources for mental health. Current interventions to improve mental health education among health workers include training primary healthcare workers. Newer models of mental health care involve delegating tasks to existing or new cadres with either less training or narrowly focused training to increase access to lower-cost services. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been instrumental in mental health research and program development. One of the most critical processes in improvement and restructuring of a mental health workforce is strategy development. The strategies should be formulated to address the different needs of specific population groups.