Everything is on the map: Integrated Mental Health Atlases as support tools for service planning. SESPAS Report 2020

Abstract

Objective: This article reviews the usability ofthe IntegratedAtlases ofMental Health as a decision support tool for service planning following a health ecosystem research approach. Method: This study describes the types of atlases and the procedure for their development. Atlases carried outin Spain are presented and their impactin mental health service planning is assessed.Atlases comprise information on the local characteristics of the health care system, geographical availability of resources collected with the DESDE-LTC instrument and their use. Atlases use geographic information systems and other visualisation tools. Atlases follow a bottom-up collaborative approach involving decision-makers from planning agencies for their development and external validation. Results: Since 2005, Integrated Atlases of Mental Health have been developed for nine regions in Spain comprising over 65% of the Spanish inhabitants. The impact on service planning has been unequal for the different regions. Catalonia, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, and Andalusia reach the highest impact. In these areas, health advisors have been actively involved in their co-design and implementation in service planning.