MHEEN II - Mental Health Economics European Network phase II (2005-2007)

Supported by the European Commission, DG HEALTH and CONSUMER PROTECTION

Leader organisation: LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS & POLITICAL SCIENCE
With the technical support and co-ordination of Mental Health Europe

BACKGROUND

The challenge of promoting good mental health has been widely recognised. The challenge is all the greater because no health system in the world has sufficient resources to meet all of a population’s health needs. Health promotion – including mental health – must therefore be pursued in cognisance of resource scarcity.
Mental health problems contribute heavily to the burden of ill health in Europe. The economic impacts can be considerable, particularly those associated with lost employment, loss of personal income, increase burden on family members, increased utilisation of health and social care services and – in some cases – increased use of service in the education, employment, housing and criminal justice sectors. However, information on related economic issues remains sparse. Little is known about the costs and other economic parameters of mental health systems in Europe as a major task.

THE MENTAL HEALTH ECONOMICS EUROPEAN NETWORK II

Starting date: 1 July 2005
Duration: 24 months.

Partnership

The project is built upon the work of the existing Mental Health Economics European Network (MHEEN) by deepening the work in the 17 current partner countries, and extend the Network into 14 new countries (the 10 new member states, three candidate countries and Liechtenstein). (Partners)

General objectives

This proposal has a number of complementary and interlinked objectives:

1. To contribute to the promotion and protection of public health in Europe by gathering and analysing information and knowledge in respect of the economics and financing of mental health
2. To build on the work of the existing Network (MHEEN) and produce high quality mental health economics related research to inform the policy process across Europe
3. To add value to the Network through links with other expert groups: IMHPA and ENWHP
4. To assess the cost-effectiveness of mental health promotion and prevention strategies against a range of mental health problems including depression and anxiety disorders
5. To construct and apply a tool for assessing mental health service utilisation and costs at the local level
6. To develop a sustainable network of mental health economics expertise through capacity building and networking to aid decision making at the European, national and local level

Specific objectives

1. Published outputs: produce publications - short policy notes, technical and academic reports relating to information on the economics of mental health in Europe
2. Tools: construct and test tools for a) assessing and economically analysing mental health service utilisation at the local level, b) collecting primary mental health economics data. Thus facilitating meaningful cross-national comparisons
3. Sustainable capacity building: host four seminars/workshops on mental health economic issues and exchange knowledge formally and informally within and beyond the Network
4. Electronic outputs: to further develop a website as a portal for communication, information resources and databases
5. Information resource: act as an information resource, supporting policy makers, service users and other stakeholders
6. Awareness and engagement: to increase understanding of the role of mental health economics as a tool to support policy-making, by engaging actively with policy-makers.

Methods

A series of tools previously developed and successfully utilised by the network, subject to some adaptation, to take into account specific issues and different organisational structures relevant to new network members, will be used to collate and generate information on mental health economics data across Europe. The multi disciplinary background of network members together with inputs with other networks linked to MHEEN are a key aspect of this work. New instruments will again be developed or adapted iteratively, drawing on the network's considerable expertise and experience. Robust systematic literature reviews will be used augmented further by data supplied by network members. Maintaining the substantial current levels of personal goodwill and additional voluntary commitment is a key challenge as the network expands; mentoring, support and the forging individual links and collaboration between existing and new partners will be facilitated.

Please click here to download the Project Fact Sheet

For further information please visit the project website at www.mheen.org or
contact Mari Fresu, Project Coordinator, at mari.fresu@mhe-sme.org.