International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challenges

Introduction: Arising from the push for global health, the movement for global mental health has established itself as a distinct identity in the last few decades. Collaboration between donors, international agencies, institutions, and individuals of different countries has been an essential compone...

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Main Authors: Pratap Sharan, Vijay Krishnan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2016;volume=32;issue=3;spage=296;epage=303;aulast=Sharan
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author Pratap Sharan
Vijay Krishnan
author_facet Pratap Sharan
Vijay Krishnan
author_sort Pratap Sharan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Arising from the push for global health, the movement for global mental health has established itself as a distinct identity in the last few decades. Collaboration between donors, international agencies, institutions, and individuals of different countries has been an essential component in this endeavor. Methods: We review relevant reports in the literature that describe the process of collaboration between individuals and institutions in the area of mental health, in order to describe current patterns in international collaboration. Results and Discussion: In the last decade, international collaboration for mental health has increased substantially. Newer international professional associations; centers for global mental health at academic centers in Europe, USA, and Australia; and international health aid agencies have joined more established agencies, to provide platforms for collaboration. A number of priority-setting exercises have been undertaken that have stressed service development for mental health. International consortia for genetics and neuroimaging have demonstrated successful research collaboration. However, barriers to collaboration persist—these include a continuing failure to prioritize mental healthcare at a policy level, as well as difficulties in arriving at a consensus on conceptualization, transcultural issues, and priority-setting for mental health research. Going forward, the challenge for “global mental health” is to establish a framework that recognizes the unique contributions of all stakeholders and emphasizes equitable partnerships, while adapting knowledge across settings and health systems. Such an approach would be essential to achieve the stated aims of this movement.
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spelling doaj.art-cb604e980b6a417a86f37aff6278dfea2022-12-21T18:25:01ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Social Psychiatry0971-99622016-01-0132329630310.4103/0971-9962.193193International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challengesPratap SharanVijay KrishnanIntroduction: Arising from the push for global health, the movement for global mental health has established itself as a distinct identity in the last few decades. Collaboration between donors, international agencies, institutions, and individuals of different countries has been an essential component in this endeavor. Methods: We review relevant reports in the literature that describe the process of collaboration between individuals and institutions in the area of mental health, in order to describe current patterns in international collaboration. Results and Discussion: In the last decade, international collaboration for mental health has increased substantially. Newer international professional associations; centers for global mental health at academic centers in Europe, USA, and Australia; and international health aid agencies have joined more established agencies, to provide platforms for collaboration. A number of priority-setting exercises have been undertaken that have stressed service development for mental health. International consortia for genetics and neuroimaging have demonstrated successful research collaboration. However, barriers to collaboration persist—these include a continuing failure to prioritize mental healthcare at a policy level, as well as difficulties in arriving at a consensus on conceptualization, transcultural issues, and priority-setting for mental health research. Going forward, the challenge for “global mental health” is to establish a framework that recognizes the unique contributions of all stakeholders and emphasizes equitable partnerships, while adapting knowledge across settings and health systems. Such an approach would be essential to achieve the stated aims of this movement.http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2016;volume=32;issue=3;spage=296;epage=303;aulast=SharanGlobal Mental HealthInternational CollaborationChallenges
spellingShingle Pratap Sharan
Vijay Krishnan
International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challenges
Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry
Global Mental Health
International Collaboration
Challenges
title International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challenges
title_full International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challenges
title_fullStr International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challenges
title_full_unstemmed International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challenges
title_short International collaboration in mental health: Contributions, opportunities, and challenges
title_sort international collaboration in mental health contributions opportunities and challenges
topic Global Mental Health
International Collaboration
Challenges
url http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2016;volume=32;issue=3;spage=296;epage=303;aulast=Sharan
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