A rapid appraisal of access to and utilisation of psychotropic medicines in Bihar, India.

Background: A major aspect of providing mental healthcare is access to and use of psychotropic medications. Bihar is a state in northeast India with limited mental healthcare provision; consequently access to and utilisation of psychotropic medications are likely to be limited. However, to date there has been no research assessing the situation.

Outcomes of the mental health and development model in rural Kenya: a 2-year prospective cohort intervention study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes for participants in BasicNeeds' Mental Health and Development programme in rural Kenya.

Methods: All new entrants to the programme in the Meru South and Nyeri North districts were enrolled in the study over a 3-month period (n = 203). Assessments of mental health, functioning, economic status and quality of life were conducted at baseline and at 1-year and 2-year follow up, using a single group cohort design.

Integrating mental health and development: a case study of the BasicNeeds Model in Nepal.

As one article in a series on Global Mental Health Practice, Shoba Raja and colleagues provide a case study of BasicNeeds in Nepal, which emphases user empowerment, community development, health systems strengthening, and policy change to help socially disadvantaged individuals with mental health conditions.

Mapping mental health finances in Ghana, Uganda, Sri Lanka, India and Lao PDR.

Background: Limited evidence about mental health finances in low and middle-income countries is a key challenge to mental health care policy initiatives. This study aimed to map mental health finances in Ghana, Uganda, India (Kerala state), Sri Lanka and Lao PDR focusing on how much money is available for mental health, how it is spent, and how this impacts mental health services.

Methods: A researcher in each region reviewed public mental health-related budgets and interviewed key informants on government mental health financing.