ORCID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2671-3327
Date of Award
Winter 12-15-2021
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Mental illness affects roughly 20% of the world in some capacity and can be debilitating. Though a large emphasis has historically been placed on individual-level interventions (e.g., therapy or medication), mental health policies present an opportunity to intervene on a large scale, with the potential to enhance impact and equity. This dissertation contributes to the mental health policy research literature in three main ways—(1) exploring factors affecting policymakers’ overall support of mental health policies; (2) assessing the use and quality of quantitative and qualitative methods within this field; and (3) exploring implementation determinants and outcomes, as well as strategies used to bolster implementation. The findings provide insight into individual-, organizational-, and broader policy-level constructs affecting policy development and implementation. The findings also identify measurement gaps within mental health policy implementation research and areas for increased methodological rigor. This dissertation contributes to a more evidence-informed approach to implementing mental health policy, with long-term implications for improving mental health and health equity on a population level.
Language
English (en)
Chair and Committee
Ross C. Brownson
Committee Members
Amy A. Eyler
Recommended Citation
Pilar, Meagan Renee, "The Potential of Mental Health Policy Implementation: Methods and Applications" (2021). Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2575.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/art_sci_etds/2575