Developing a capacity-building programme to support a mental health service modernisation pilot project in Lviv region of Western Ukraine.

This paper reflects on the development of a capacity-building programme to support a mental health service modernisation pilot project based in the Lviv region of Western Ukraine. National programmes that aim to modernise mental health services now have the experience of other countries on which to draw. The challenges faced by such modernisers have much in common. Nevertheless, although there are lessons to be learned from what has worked well elsewhere, we caution that the local context can have a profound effect on the successful implementation of plans based on best practice.

Maudsley International: improving mental health and well-being around the world.

Maudsley International was set up to help improve people's mental health and well-being around the world. A variety of programmes have been developed by Maudsley International over the past 10 years, for planning and implementing services; building capacity; and training and evaluation to support organisations and individuals, professionals and managers to train and develop health and social care provisions. Maudsley International's model is based on collaboration, sharing expertise and cultural understanding with international partners.

Evaluation of Greek psychiatric reforms: methodological issues.

Over the last three decades significant efforts have been made in many European countries to move away from a mental health system dominated by institutional care towards one whereby the main emphasis is on providing care and support within the community. Although the time of starting the reforms, their pace, the political context, and the exact objectives varies substantially across Europe, practically all countries have been undergoing such major reforms aimed at establishing services in the community to replace institutional based care. Each country makes its own decisions about the necessary mental health services taking into account a range of factors including population needs, level of resources, flexibility and coordination of organizational structures, as well as local culture. These factors become an integral element of a national mental health policy and action plan, closely linked with national public health strategies.Greece has been modernizing an outdated mental health system, which was based on institutional care, over the last 20 years, by developing community-based mental health care. This article describes the methodology used for the evaluation of the Psychargos programme of the mental health reforms in Greece. Various forms of community-based mental health services have been developed including supported living facilities, community mental health centres and employment opportunities.