Mental health system and services in Albania.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the mental health system in Albania.


METHODS
Data were gathered in 2003 and in 2004 using a new WHO instrument, World Health Organization Assessment Instrument for Mental health Systems (WHO-AIMS), designed for collecting essential information on the mental health system of low and middle income countries. It consists of 6 domains, 28 facets and 156 items.


RESULTS
The information collected through WHO AIMS covered the key aspects of mental health system in Albania: the mental health policy and the legislative framework, the network of mental health services and the characteristics of the users, the role of the primary health care, the human resources, the public education and the links with other governmental sectors, monitoring and research.


CONCLUSIONS
The data collection through WHO AIMS represented a needed step for a better in-depth knowledge of the system and for implementing actions to strengthen the system. Examples of planned actions were the improvement of the mental health component in primary care, a clear shift of resources from mental hospitals to community facilities, an increase of the outpatient care and an expansion of the mental health information system.
Keste
Dévora
D
WHO Country Office Albania.
Lazeri
Ledia
L
Demi
Neli
N
Severoni
Santino
S
Lora
Antonio
A
Saxena
Shekhar
S
D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*