Barriers and enablers to collaboration in the mental health system in Sabah, Malaysia: towards a theory of collaboration.

Background: The systems that help people with mental disorders in Malaysia include hospitals, primary care, traditional and religious systems, schools and colleges, employers, families and other community members.

Aims: To better understand collaboration between and within these systems and create a theoretical framework for system development.

Method: A total of 26 focus groups and 27 individual interviews were undertaken with patients, carers, psychiatric hospital staff, primary care and district hospital staff, religious and traditional healers, community leaders, non-governmental organisation workers, and school and college counsellors.