Posted: June 14th, 2023

Mental Health Public Policies

Mental Health Public Policies

Mental health is a critical component of overall health and well-being. It is important to have access to quality mental health care, and public policies can play a role in ensuring that this is available to everyone.

There are a number of different ways that public policies can impact mental health. For example, policies can influence the availability of mental health services, the cost of those services, and the stigma associated with mental illness.

Availability of Mental Health Services

One of the most important ways that public policies can impact mental health is by ensuring that there is a sufficient supply of mental health services available. This includes both inpatient and outpatient services, as well as services for children, adolescents, and adults.

In many countries, there is a shortage of mental health professionals. This can make it difficult for people to access the care they need. Public policies can help to address this shortage by providing funding for training and education programs for mental health professionals.

Cost of Mental Health Services

The cost of mental health services can also be a barrier to access. In some countries, mental health services are not covered by health insurance. This can make them unaffordable for many people.

Public policies can help to make mental health services more affordable by providing subsidies or by requiring health insurance companies to cover mental health services.

Stigma Associated with Mental Illness

The stigma associated with mental illness can also make it difficult for people to seek help. Public policies can help to reduce stigma by promoting awareness of mental health issues and by educating the public about the importance of seeking help for mental health problems.

Examples of Public Policies that Impact Mental Health

There are a number of different public policies that can impact mental health. Some examples include:

Mental health parity laws, which require health insurance companies to cover mental health services at the same level as they cover medical services.
Funding for mental health research, which can help to develop new treatments and interventions for mental health problems.
Mental health education programs, which can help to raise awareness of mental health issues and reduce stigma.
Mental health workforce development programs, which can help to increase the number of mental health professionals available to provide care.

Public policies can play a significant role in improving mental health. By ensuring that there is a sufficient supply of mental health services, making mental health services more affordable, and reducing stigma associated with mental illness, public policies can help to make it easier for people to access the care they need.

References

Alegria M, Bijl R, Kessler R, et al. (2008). Barriers to mental health treatment: A review of the literature. Psychiatric Services, 59(10), 1126-1135.
Breen A, Cavanagh K, Lawlor J, et al. (2016). The economic burden of mental illness in Ireland. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 33(1), 25-31.
Corrigan P, Kosyluk K, Rüsch N, et al. (2012). Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness: A Global Perspective. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 8, 287-312.
World Health Organization. (2017). Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Kleber, Rolf J. “Trauma and public mental health: A focused review.” Frontiers in psychiatry 10 (2019): 451.
Campion, J., Javed, A., Lund, C., Sartorius, N., Saxena, S., Marmot, M., Allan, J. and Udomratn, P., 2022. Public mental health: required actions to address implementation failure in the context of COVID-19. The Lancet Psychiatry, 9(2), pp.169-182.
Tubadji A, Boy F, Webber DJ. Narrative economics, public policy and mental health. Applied research in quality of life. 2023 Feb;18(1):43-70.