Comparative mental health policy: are there lessons to be learned?

The development of an excellent mental health system at the national level or even the state or provincial jurisdiction resembles the search for the Holy Grail. We are not there yet, and some stakeholders doubt we will ever get there. The last 20 years has seen an explosion of progressive mental health policy statements in a number of jurisdictions. However, it is difficult to find national mental health systems that are performing well. This paper reviews the status of national mental health policy in Australia, the UK, the USA and New Zealand. It examines the evolution of mental health policy in Ontario, Canada, and provides some commentary on how the Ontario experience is consistent with the experience of other jurisdictions. Finally it explores whether there are lessons to be learned that can be applied in Canada and elsewhere.