Strengthening Mental Health Systems Research Capacity
Strategy	Notes
Communication infrastructure and active networking	The International Observatory on Mental Health Systems (IOMHS) Secretariat facilitates communication within the IOMHS network, and between IOMHS and other organizations. The networks should be across different institutions and teams, across different parts of the research system (e.g., research producer and user groups), and across different disciplines.
Strategic leadership, training, and skills development	Within countries the IOMHS collaborating groups will contribute to strategic leadership and to shaping the national mental health systems research agenda. Observatory partners are linked into training opportunities offered by CIMH and other organizations, such as the International Master in Mental Health Policy and Services13 and the International Diploma in Mental Health Law and Human Rights.14
Resource concentration	A central element of the observatory strategy is resource concentration through the establishment of mental health systems research, education, and development groups—which strengthens capacity to secure research funds from national and international sources.
User-researcher interaction	It is essential that the users of the research results are engaged as early as possible in the research process. IOMHS collaborating groups have established links with key research users, particularly ministries of health and civil society and consumer and carer organizations.
Research career development	The establishment of mental health systems research, education, and development groups in key academic departments will open up career pathways that currently do not exist for mental health systems researchers, and will improve ability to compete for scarce research funds. Training will contribute to building careers in mental health systems research.
Ensuring political independence	The establishment of IOMHS collaborating groups in influential academic institutions—which everywhere jealously guard their independence—will contribute to ensuring political independence. However, political independence does not mean political isolation.
Cultural change	A key component of necessary cultural change is the creation of a culture in which the production, dissemination, and use of high-quality research is valued as an integral part of the health system. Knowledge should be publicly owned, widely disseminated, and shared, and should be used for public benefit. Building an open research culture is an essential and long-term objective.