Key elements of a situational analyses to inform mental health policy
Abstract
The role of situational analysis in developing mental health policy is outlined and recommendations for the content of a situational analysis are presented. Situational analysis of mental health in four African countries was undertaken as part of the Mental Health and Poverty Project (MHaPP); examples from Uganda, South Africa, Ghana and Zambia are used to illustrate the recommendations, which are made under the headings: 
 1. Country general context
 2. General health context
 3. Policy & legislative framework
 4: Coordination
 5: Mental health needs and current service utilization
 6. Mental health financing
 7. Mental health services and their organization
 8 . Intersectoral collaboration.
Citation
Mental Health Policy and Service Development, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 4 pp.
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