RHC is supporting the World Health Organization-led United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the United Nations Development Programme in developing the mental health investment case in Gambia.
Psychosis, depression, dementia, alcohol dependence, and other mental health, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are a subgroup of NCDs that significantly impact public health in Gambia.
Mental health conditions not only cause individual suffering but also have broader social and economic repercussions. These include an increasing financial strain on health systems and a reduction in workforce productivity, as individuals with mental health conditions are more likely to leave the labor force (due to premature death or disability), miss workdays (absenteeism), or work at reduced capacity (presenteeism).
The mental health investment case quantifies the costs of mental health conditions to the health sector and the national economy, and highlights the benefits of scaling up action. It includes a return on investment (ROI) analysis that compares the current costs of mental health conditions in the country with the projected health and economic returns from implementing a set of cost-effective interventions (both enhanced treatment of mental health conditions and population-based preventive programs) over five, ten, and twenty-year periods.
The mental health investment case will also assess the current national mental health system, identifying the most appropriate and feasible mechanisms for scaling up mental health promotion, prevention, and care in the country. The role of non-health sectors in contributing to the mental health agenda is emphasized throughout the process.
This investment case is expected to serve as a powerful advocacy tool, providing quantified evidence of the long-term health, social, and economic benefits of investing in mental health.
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