Economic Evaluation of 9 Intersectoral Strategies to Improve Youth Mental Health and Alleviate Financial Burden in Colombia Using System Dynamics Modeling.

Objectives: Limited evidence exists for strategic actions in improving mental health at the youth population-level, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the health and economic impacts of intersectoral mental health programs to inform the optimal suite of interventions for young people in Bogotá, Colombia, where many are at risk of mental disorders and lack access to appropriate health services.

Methods: This study evaluated 9 interventions compared with business as usual over a projected 10-year time horizon using a system dynamics model developed through a participatory process involving diverse local stakeholders.

Can participatory processes lead to changes in the configuration of local mental health networks? A social network analysis.

Systems modeling offers a valuable tool to support strategic decision-making for complex problems because it considers the causal inter-relationships that drive population health outcomes. This tool can be used to simulate policies and initiatives to determine which combinations are likely to deliver the greatest impacts and returns on investment. Systems modeling benefits from participatory approaches where a multidisciplinary stakeholder group actively engages in mapping and contextualizing causal mechanisms driving complex system behaviors.