International Pathways to Mental Health System Transformation: Strategies and Challenges

A wide range of funding mechanisms, organizational structures, political institutions and cultural and professional traditions characterize the mental health service systems of Australia, Canada, England, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, and the United States. Despite these differences, an analysis of policy documents and reports from these seven countries reveals a striking national-level policy consensus about the need for substantial if not radical change of their respective mental health systems. The congruence of vision, values, and priorities in their reform efforts strongly argues for the importance of ongoing international dialogue and exchange. This implicit agreement on a change agenda invites opportunities for collaboration in systems design and planning, innovation and implementation, and strategies for change, along with services researc