The Mental Health and Poverty Project: Phase 1. Country Report: A situation analysis of the mental health system in Uganda

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine mental health policy development and implementation in Uganda, in an effort to identify the key barriers to mental health policy development and implementation, the current challenges to mental health service delivery and steps that can be taken to strengthen the mental health system in the country. This study forms part of a broader multi-centre international mental health research consortium in Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia; the aim of which was to investigate the policy level interventions that are required to break the vicious cycle of poverty and mental ill-health in order to generate lessons for a range of low and middle-income countries. The fieldwork for the study was conducted between 1st August 2006 and 31st March 2007. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Quantitative methods were used to assess the current mental health system and to evaluate the mental health policy and legislation. Qualitative methods were employed to provide an understanding of the mental health situation, processes and underlying issues in mental health policy development and implementation. Methodology is detailed in Chapter 2 of the report. Chapter 3 presents the findings of the study under the main headings: General context; Mental health situation; General policy making processes; Process of mental health policy and law development; Appropriateness of the mental health policy and law; Mental health policy and law implementation at macro level; Mental health policy implementation at micro level; and Mental health research. The report also presents, discussion, conclusions and recommendations, and a number of appendices on mental health policy and legislation. The findings of this first phase of the project will be used to inform a set of interventions, to be developed in partnership with the mental health division of the Ministry of Health. The interventions to be conducted in the second phase will specifically address particular barriers to the successful development and implementation of mental health policy in Uganda