Background – the need for comprehensive intersectoral strategies
Children and adolescents´ mental health is determined by a complex web of interacting factors. Services to address those with the highest need are required but so are also intervention
strategies that may promote mental health, prevent mental ill-health and achieve early detection and intervention. If comprehensive strategies can be developed, children and adolescent can be helped earlier and thus need not be as highly struck by these problems as when the systems rely on only the highest level of specialized care. However, to be efficient, such systems need to be arranged with the involvement of a wide spectrum of sectors such as mental health care, social services and education. This has been recognized throughout Europe and in several countries around the world during the last decade.
“Model areas” – a national development programme in Sweden
In 2009 the Swedish government through its ministry of health and social welfare joined an agreement with the association of Swedish local authorities and regions to fund a three year national development programme to develop integrated systems of mental health services for children and adolescents. The programme has engaged 14 “model areas” (geographically bounded localities each including at least one regional authority and one or more municipalities). These areas were chosen as representatives for different types of localities throughout Sweden. The funding provided to these areas intends to help them allocating extra resources to intensify their work to create sustainable intersectoral coordination from highest political level trough top management to managers and practitioners working closest to children and adolescents.
A central technical assistance team has been formed at the association of Swedish local authorities and regional to give appropriate support to the participating localities. Technical assistance has been given to local project leaders and steering groups at the top management and political levels. More than 75 specific events targeting key areas such as the role of the education, social service and health care sectors as well as more generic competencies such as socioeconomic analysis, strategic collaboration and research & development have yet been run.
A few key lessons so far
A recurrent finding is that comprehensive strategies need mechanisms for strategic collaboration across all sectors as well as between the hierarchical levels. Socioeconomic analysis seem to be a viable strategy to illustrate the benefits of allocating funding to promotion, prevention and early intervention by showing with good data that appropriate work at these earlier levels can minimize the risk of postponing problems that can be alleviated earlier at a lower cost to the society and to the affected family. It thus fulfils the dual interest to improve health and well-being while at the same time being a good investment for the societal economy.
Contact information:
Project Manager
Ing-Marie Wieselgren
ing-marie.wieselgren@skl.se
+46-8-4527792
Manager Research and Development
Fredrik Lindencrona
fredrik.lindencrona@skl.se
+46-8-4527906
Manager Communication
Lotta Jernström
+46-8-4527704
lotta.jernstrom@skl.se
