Closing the treatment gap for mental, neurological and substance use disorders by strengthening existing health care platforms: strategies for delivery and integration of evidence-based interventions
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This paper outlines the main elements and features of a mental health care delivery platform and its delivery channels. These include evidence-based interventions that can be delivered via this platform as well as broader health system strengthening strategies for more effective and efficient delivery of services. The focus is broadly on health systems perspective rather than strictly disorder-oriented intervention analysis. A set of evidence-based interventions within the WHO pyramid framework of self-care, primary care, and specialist care have been identified; the main challenge lies in the translation of that evidence into practice. The delivery of these interventions requires an approach that puts into practice key principles of public health, adopts systems thinking, promotes whole-of-government involvement and is focused on quality improvement. Key strategies for effective translation of evidence into action include collaborative stepped care, strengthening human resources, and integrating mental health into general health care. In order to pursue these principles and strategies using a platform-wide approach, policy makers need to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and make use of the best available evidence in a transparent manner.
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Bibliotherapy and related interventions offer practical options for individuals facing barriers to formal care, including limited access to mental health services or reluctance to seek professional help.
“Such interventions offer practical options for individuals facing barriers to formal care, including limited access to mental health services or reluctance to seek professional help”
From Recent developments in bibliotherapy for adolescent depression (2025) · cites this paper as [60]
The Background describes limited access to mental health interventions, and the Self-care and informal health care section discusses self-management and factors affecting help-seeking (page numbers unavailable). Table 1 lists web-based psychological therapy as a self-care intervention. Our copy does not identify bibliotherapy or say that these interventions are practical options specifically for people reluctant to seek professional help. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBibliotherapy and related interventions help address the significant global treatment gap for depression.
“and thus help address the significant global treatment gap for depression (60).”
From Recent developments in bibliotherapy for adolescent depression (2025) · cites this paper as [60]
The Evidence-based interventions for health care delivery platforms section lists web-based psychological therapy for depression as an evidence-based self-care intervention. The Quality of care for MNS disorders section describes a large treatment gap, but the paper does not identify bibliotherapy specifically or establish that it helps close that gap for depression worldwide. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)
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“Background A large proportion of persons affected by mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders do not have access to a wide variety of evidence-based interventions which can prevent and treat these disorders, resulting in a huge treatment gap [1].”
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- Authors
- Shidhaye, R., Lund, C., & Chisholm, D.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University (NL)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- World Health Organization (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Shidhaye, Rahul
- Venue
- International Journal of Mental Health Systems
- Published
- 2015-12
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 40-40
- ISSN
- 1752-4458 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4696279
- OpenAlex
- W2214791475
- Cited by
- 125
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 1.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- International Journal of Mental Health Systems (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) (submittedVersion)
- Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Greater South Information System
- Funders
- UK aid (HRPC10)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Keywords
- mental health service delivery, treatment gap, mental, neurological and substance use disorders, health system strengthening, stepped care, evidence-based interventions, translation of evidence into practice, quality improvement, human resources for health, whole-of-government approach, stakeholder engagement, mental health policy
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