Abstract
Internationally, there have been calls for more strategic mental health care delivery. For this to occur, individual countries need to define ‘core’ mental health services and set evidence-based, country-specific resource targets related to these. Via a web search, we identified 32 current mental health plans from five developed countries. We synthesised descriptive information from these documents, in order to compare profiles of ‘core’ services, resource targets relating to these services, and rationales for these resource targets. Most plans list ‘core’ clinical services, typically including a mix of inpatient and community services. Only four plans cite resource targets for these ‘core’ services, and these are difficult to compare due to different definitional and counting rules. All four provide rationales for the targets, though these vary in strength. The challenge remains for individual countries to develop plans that include appropriate resource targets, and to implement initiatives that move them towards these targets.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ACT Health. (2003). ACT mental health strategy and action plan. Canberra: ACT Health.
Boardman, J., & Parsonage, M. (2005). Defining a good mental health service: A discussion paper. London: The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.
Brown, J. F. (2001). The grooves of change: Eastern Europe at the turn of the millennium. Durham and London: Duke University Press.
California Mental Health Planning Council. (2003). California mental health master plan: A vision for California. Sacramento: California Mental Health Planning Council.
Colorado Division of Mental Health. (2005). Community mental health services block grant application and plan FY 2005–2007. Denver: Colorado Division of Mental Health.
Colorado Division of Mental Health. (2006). Community mental health services block grant application and plan FY 2006: Year two of approved FY 2005–2007 plan. Denver: Colorado Division of Mental Health.
Department of Health. (1998). Modernising mental health services: Safe, sound and supportive. London: Department of Health.
Department of Health. (1999). National Service Framework for Mental Health. London: Department of Health.
Department of Health. (2000). The NHS plan: A plan for investment: A plan for reform. London: Department of Health.
Department of Health and Human Services. (2005). Tasmanian mental health services: Strategic plan 2006–2011. Hobart: Department of Health and Human Services.
Department of Health and Social Services. (2005). Mental health block grant 2006–2007. Juneau: Department of Health and Social Services.
Department of Human Services. (2000). Implementation plan: 2000–2005. Adelaide: Department of Human Services.
Department of Human Services. (2001). Action plan for the reform of mental health services: 2000–2005. Adelaide: Department of Human Services.
Department of Human Services. (2002a). Emergency demand management and the role and function of ACIS: A review. Adelaide: Department of Human Services.
Department of Human Services. (2002b). Mental health adult and aged acute bed requirements to 2006. Adelaide: Department of Human Services.
Department of Human Services. (2002c). Mental health rehabilitation and recovery model for South Australia. Adelaide: Department of Human Services.
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. (2004). Reports on statewide priority services: A synthesis of regional needs. Hartford: Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Desjarlis, R., Eisenberg, L., Good, B., & Kleinman, A. (1995). World mental health. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Division of State and Community Systems Development. (2005). Community mental health services block grant: Uniform application FY 2006. Boise: Division of State and Community Systems Development.
Executive Office of Health and Human Services. (2004). State mental health plan, fiscal years 2005–2007. Boston: Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Government of Alberta. (2004). Advancing the mental health agenda: A provincial mental health plan for Alberta. Edmonton: Government of Alberta.
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2005). Working together for mental health: A provincial policy framework for mental health and addictions services in Newfoundland and Labrador. St John’s: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Governor’s Mental Health Task Force. (2004). A blueprint for action: Report to the Governor and Legislature. Salem: Governor’s Mental Health Task Force.
Gulbinat, W. H., Manderscheid, R. W., Beigel, A., & Costa e Silva, J. A. (1996). A multinational strategy on mental health policy and care: A WHO collaborative initiative and consultative program. In M. Moscarelli, A. Rupp, & N. Sartorius (Eds.), Schizophrenia: Handbook of mental health economics and health policy (pp. 531–535). Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.
Healthcare Management Advisors. (2003). Mental health service system development strategy project for the Northern Territory: Final report. Darwin: Northern Territory Government Department of Health and Community Services.
Knapp, M. (2002). Mental health: Familiar challenges, unprecedented opportunities? Eurohealth, 8(1), 29–31.
McDaid, D. (2002). Addressing Inequalities in mental health across Europe. Eurohealth, 8(1), 29–31.
Mental Health Commission. (1998). Blueprint for mental health services in New Zealand: How things need to be. Wellington: Mental Health Commission.
Mental Health Commission. (2001). Report on progress 1998–2000 towards implementing the blueprint for mental health services in New Zealand. Wellington: Mental Health Commission.
Mental Health Commission. (2004). Report on progress 2002–2003 towards implementing the blueprint for mental health services in New Zealand. Wellington: Mental Health Commission.
Mental Health Steering Committee. (2004). Standards for mental health services in Nova Scotia. Halifax: Department of Health.
Missouri Department of Mental Health. (2006). Strategic plan fiscal year 2006. Jefferson City: Missouri Department of Mental Health.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. (2005). Community mental health services block grant application FY 2006. Lincoln: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Nevada Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services. (2003). Strategic plan 2002–07. Carson City: Nevada Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services.
New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services and New Jersey Division of Child Behavioral Health Services. (2004). State of New Jersey community mental health services block grant application for fiscal years 2005–2007. Trenton: New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
New South Wales Department of Health. (2001). Mental health clinical care and prevention model: A population mental health model (MH-CCP Version 1.11). Sydney: New South Wales Department of Health.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (2005). Blueprint for change: State plan 2005. Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2004). Mental health block grant FY 2005–2007 application. Oklahoma City: Okalahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. (1999). Making it happen: Implementation plan for mental health reform. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care.
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. (2001). Making it happen: Operational framework for the delivery of mental health services and supports. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care.
Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (2005). A call for change: Toward a recovery-oriented mental health service system for adults. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Queensland Health. (1996). Ten year mental health strategy for Queensland. Brisbane: Queensland Health.
Queensland Health. (2003). Queensland mental health strategic plan: 2003–2008. Brisbane: Queensland Health.
South Carolina Department of Mental Health. (2004). Mental health block grant plan: FY 2005–FY 2007. Columbia: South Carolina Department of Mental Health.
South Dakota Division of Mental Health. (2005). Community mental health services block grant application FY 2005–2007. Pierre: South Dakota Division of Mental Health.
Tolkien II Team. (2006). Tolkien II: A needs-based, costed stepped-care model for mental health services. Sydney: World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Classification of Mental Health.
Victorian Government Department of Human Services. (2002). New directions for Victoria’s mental health services: The next five years. Melbourne: Victorian Government Department of Human Services.
Victorian Government Department of Human Services. (2005). Specialist mental health service components. Melbourne: Victorian Government Department of Human Services.
Virginia Department of Mental Health, M. R. a. S. A. S. (2005). Community mental health services block grant application FY 2006–2007. Richmond: Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.
Wagner, P., Hirschon Weiss, C., Wittrock, B., & Wollmann, H. (1991). The policy orientation legacy and promise. In P. Wagner, C. Hirschon Weiss, B. Wittrock, & H. Wollmann (Eds.), Social sciences and modern states: National experiences and theoretical crossroads. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. (2006a). Wisconsin’s adult mental health plan, federal fiscal years 2006–2007. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services. (2006b). Wisconsin’s child mental health plan, federal fiscal years 2006–2007. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services.
World Health Organization. (2001). The world health report 2001: Mental health: New understanding, new hope. Geneva: World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2004). Mental health policy, plans and programmes (updated version). Geneva: World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2005). Mental health atlas 2005. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Wright, D. G. (1997). Report to the mental health commission for the blueprint. Wellington: Mental Health Commission.
Wyoming Department of Health. (2001). The Wyoming public mental health system of care plan (May 2001 Update). Cheyenne: Wyoming Department of Health.
Zwi, A., Fustukian, S., & Sethi, D. (2002). Globalization, conflict and the humanitarian response. In K. Lee, K. Buse, & S. Fustukian (Eds.), Health policy in a globalising world. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Acknowledgments
This work was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pirkis, J., Harris, M., Buckingham, W. et al. International Planning Directions for Provision of Mental Health Services. Adm Policy Ment Health 34, 377–387 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-007-0116-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-007-0116-0