Tracking development assistance for mental health: time for better data

Author: Valentin Iemmi

Key Messages

• Sustainable mental health financing requires accurate financial data, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where most people with mental disorders live but resources are extremely limited.
• Development assistance for mental health (DAMH) constitutes a critical source of funding for mental health in LMICs. However, tracking DAMH is complex, and estimates are inaccurate.
• Four groups of limitations at different stages of the estimation process currently hinder the accuracy of DAMH estimates.
• Several opportunities might be leveraged to improve them. This is crucial to support decision makers at both the global and country levels and to strengthen mental health financing in LMICs.

Citation: Iemmi V (2022) Tracking development assistance for mental health: time for better data. Health Policy and Planning. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czac108.