Mental health research publications from low- and middle-income countries

World-wide, there are more than 471 000 psychiatric nurses, 165 000 psychiatrists, 147 000 psychologists and 229 000 social workers operating in the mental health field (World Health Organization, 2001). It is important that information about recent clinical, service and research developments reaches these professionals and the traditional route for disseminating such knowledge is via professional and scientific journals. However, there is clear evidence that the major journals with an international distribution are not accessible to those working in low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries.