Preface / Dr. Michelle Funk, Dr. Benedetto Saraceno -- Aims and target audience -- Deeloping a mantel health

policy: essential steps -- Step 1. Assesss the population's needs -- Gather evidence for effective strategies

-- Consultation and negotiation -- Exchange with other countries -- Set out the vision, values, principles

and objectives of the policy -- Determine areas for action -- Identify the major roles and responsibilities of

different sectors -- Examples of policies -- Devloping a menal health plan -- Determine the strategies and

time frames -- Set indicators and targets -- Determine the major activities -- Determine the costs, the

available resources and the budget -- Developing a mental health programme -- Implementation issues for

policy, plans and programmes -- Disseminate the policy -- Generate political support and funding -- Develop

supportive organization -- Set up pilot projets in demonstration areas -- Empower mental health providers --

Reinforce intersectoral coordination -- Promote interactions among stakeholders -- Examples of the

implementation of policy -- Case examples of mental health policy, plans and programmes -- Barriers and

solutions -- Recommendations and conclusions -- Examples of effective menal health interventions -- Principles

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and programmes: function of some key stakeholders -- Definitions -- Further reading -- References

A mental health policy and plan is essential to coordinate all services and activities related to menal

health. Without adequate policies and plans, menal disorders are likely to be treated in an inefficient and

fragmented manner.