Only 10 studies provided rationale or details about the tools they employed of which three were available (Doku et al., 2008; Draper et al., 2009; Bikker et al., 2020) (see Supplementary Material). One study used a free listing technique with broad open-ended questions to elicit a comprehensive list of implementation barriers (Abdulmalik et al., 2016). Only nine studies provided details on the content of their tools, of which two provided their interview and focus group guide templates in the Supplementary Materials (Doku et al., 2008; Draper et al., 2009). With the exception of one, all studies used surveys that were specially designed ad hoc self-administered questionnaires, with the WHO-AIMS Instrument and Survey Checklist being the only standardised tool used (Mwanza et al., 2008).

Authors’ contributions

The previous review by Zhou et al. (2018) provided an excellent foundation to understand the challenges in implementing mental health policies; however, to the knowledge of the authors of this systematic review, our study is the first of its kind to map existing methodologies and tools to assess the implementation of MHPPs. In LMICs, challenges including a lack of professional training among healthcare workers, opposition from key stakeholders and resistance to decentralisation of mental health services are reported as more pronounced than in HICs (Saraceno et al., 2007). The document outlines key areas for action, roles, and responsibilities to improve access to quality mental health services across the country.

Guidance on policy and strategic actions for mental health and the social protection sector

In addition, the relationship between specific content from behavioral health bills and future enactment were modeled. The likelihood of mental health bills’ enactment (becoming law) was examined (the number of bills enacted divided by the total number of bills). This ultimately was used to identify opportunities for supporting the integration of behavioral interventions into practice.

Policy development

• Regular interaction and cooperation with all key stakeholders take place via a dedicated network on mental health at the EU Health Policy Platform.
• Investing in mental health initiatives not only benefits individual employees but also strengthens the organization’s overall performance by promoting a positive and balanced work environment .
• Another 26 studies were selected from either reference lists of included articles or publications known to authors including 7 grey literature publications.
• While environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and social influences also contribute, understanding the genetic underpinnings provides insight into the complexity of mental health.
• Usually, the format of such studies allows for situation analysis and a more detailed description of methodology to be included.

WHO will support countries in implementing the guidance through technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives. “This new guidance gives all governments the tools to promote and protect mental health and build systems that serve everyone.” We are very keen to ensure the public and stakeholders are involved in the Mental Health Strategy implementation process and are kept fully informed. The Strategy is person centred, takes a whole life approach and a whole system focus and the key aim is to ensure long term improved outcomes for people’s mental health. The article argues that such tools and instruments that assess the impact of policies on implementation are inadequate, which to me is a significant result and the authors perhaps need to stay with it a bit longer. Such a consolidated methodology might result in a checklist that would mirror each objective of MHPPs and that would allow for various contexts to be taken into account as well as for experiences and lessons from implementation and evaluation to be shared.

The global mental health crisis is underscored by alarming statistics, with the WHO estimating that nearly 800,000 people die by suicide each year, representing one person every 40 seconds. Mental health is no longer viewed merely as the absence of mental illness but as a holistic state that encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing how individuals think, feel, and behave. Mental health refers to a state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being, enabling individuals to cope with stress, work productively, and contribute to their community. In the modern era, mental health and well-being have become pivotal aspects of https://www.ihs.gov/california/index.cfm/offices/oph/bh/resources/helpful-organizations/ global health, gaining increasing recognition as essential components of overall well-being.