title: Call for a change in research funding priorities: the example of mental health in Costa Rica.
abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 urges its Member States to strengthen leadership in mental health, ensure mental and social health interventions in community-based settings, promote mental health and strengthen information systems, and increase evidence and research for mental health. Although Costa Rica has strongly invested in public health and successfully reduced the burden of nutritional and infectious diseases, its transitional epidemiological pattern, population growth, and immigration from unstable neighboring countries has shifted the burden to chronic disorders. Although policies for chronic disorders have been in place for several decades, mental disorders have not been included. Recently, as the Ministry of Health of Costa Rica developed a Mental Health Policy for 2013-2020, it became evident that the country needs epidemiological data to prioritize evidence-based intervention areas. This article stresses the importance of conducting local epidemiological studies on mental health, and calls for changes in research funding priorities by public and private national and international funding agencies in order to follow the WHO Mental Health Action Plan.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Biología Celular y Molecular, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raventós
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Psicología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Gloriana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Psicología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leandro
mesh_terms: D003364:Costa Rica; D003906:Developing Countries; D005380:Financing, Government; D005381:Financing, Organized; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D061889:Healthcare Financing; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011050:Policy Making; D011570:Psychiatry; D012106:Research / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000639:trends; D012943:Social Security / Q000191:economics; D000078329:Workforce; D014944:World Health Organization