Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review
Background Mental health disorders are viewed as a global concern requiring globally led approaches to address them. Since the publication of the 2007 Lancet series on global mental health (GMH), the term has become widespread. Over the last two decades, GMH has become increasingly affiliated with p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2021-03-01
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| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/3/e004631.full |
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| author | Stefan Priebe Vian Rajabzadeh Erin Burn Sana Z. Sajun Mimi Suzuki Victoria Jane Bird |
| author_facet | Stefan Priebe Vian Rajabzadeh Erin Burn Sana Z. Sajun Mimi Suzuki Victoria Jane Bird |
| author_sort | Stefan Priebe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Mental health disorders are viewed as a global concern requiring globally led approaches to address them. Since the publication of the 2007 Lancet series on global mental health (GMH), the term has become widespread. Over the last two decades, GMH has become increasingly affiliated with policy reform, academic courses, funding bodies and research. However, it is not always obvious how those working in the field of GMH are using the term, resulting in a lack of clarity. Therefore, work is needed to synthesise the current understanding(s) of GMH to help characterise its meaning.Aim To synthesise the literature and identify the different ways GMH is understood.Method A conceptual review, using a systematic search and a content analysis, was conducted to develop a conceptual framework of the different conceptual understandings of GMH.Results We developed a conceptual framework of four understandings of GMH. These understandings of GMH are as follows: an area of research generating findings to establish a GMH evidence-base; implementation of research into practice; improving the mental health environment; learning from and supporting low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs).Conclusion Our review proposes a simple framework, clarifying the key characteristics of the GMH landscape. The findings highlight the diversity of usage of the term in the literature, as well as present the wide scope that comprises the field of GMH. Referring to this framework may help those engaged with GMH to be more specific with which aspect of the field they are concerned with. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a979f7bcb5a44cd68179d25e4be0d2af |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-a979f7bcb5a44cd68179d25e4be0d2af2025-08-20T02:38:29ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082021-03-016310.1136/bmjgh-2020-004631Understanding global mental health: a conceptual reviewStefan Priebe0Vian Rajabzadeh1Erin Burn2Sana Z. Sajun3Mimi Suzuki4Victoria Jane Bird5Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry (WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Service Development), Queen Mary University of London, London, UKImperial College LondonUnit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UKUnit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UKUnit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UKUnit of Social and Community Psychiatry (WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Service Development), Queen Mary University of London, London, UKBackground Mental health disorders are viewed as a global concern requiring globally led approaches to address them. Since the publication of the 2007 Lancet series on global mental health (GMH), the term has become widespread. Over the last two decades, GMH has become increasingly affiliated with policy reform, academic courses, funding bodies and research. However, it is not always obvious how those working in the field of GMH are using the term, resulting in a lack of clarity. Therefore, work is needed to synthesise the current understanding(s) of GMH to help characterise its meaning.Aim To synthesise the literature and identify the different ways GMH is understood.Method A conceptual review, using a systematic search and a content analysis, was conducted to develop a conceptual framework of the different conceptual understandings of GMH.Results We developed a conceptual framework of four understandings of GMH. These understandings of GMH are as follows: an area of research generating findings to establish a GMH evidence-base; implementation of research into practice; improving the mental health environment; learning from and supporting low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs).Conclusion Our review proposes a simple framework, clarifying the key characteristics of the GMH landscape. The findings highlight the diversity of usage of the term in the literature, as well as present the wide scope that comprises the field of GMH. Referring to this framework may help those engaged with GMH to be more specific with which aspect of the field they are concerned with.https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/3/e004631.full |
| spellingShingle | Stefan Priebe Vian Rajabzadeh Erin Burn Sana Z. Sajun Mimi Suzuki Victoria Jane Bird Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review BMJ Global Health |
| title | Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review |
| title_full | Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review |
| title_fullStr | Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review |
| title_short | Understanding global mental health: a conceptual review |
| title_sort | understanding global mental health a conceptual review |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/6/3/e004631.full |
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