Who Are the Stakeholders in Promoting Mental Health?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Mental health promotion requires inter-sectoral collaboration beyond the health sector.
• Identifying key public sector stakeholders is crucial for effective policy-making.
• This study focuses on Iran's public sector's role in mental health promotion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the most effective public sector stakeholders in Iran for mental health promotion.
• To inform policy-makers and encourage inter-sectoral collaboration.
• To guide the involvement of effective sectors in mental health promotion plans.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed.
• Literature review and surveys identified relevant public agencies.
• Simple additive weighting and institutional mapping were used to analyze stakeholder impact.

Main Results:

• Five key public sector institutions significantly impact mental health social determinants in Iran.
• These include the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Ministry of Interior, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, and Ministry of Education.
• Institutional mapping visualized the influence of these organizations on mental health risk factors.

Conclusions:

• The identified institutions possess significant influence over mental health social determinants.
• The Islamic Consultative Assembly (legislator) and Ministry of Interior (administration) are key.
• Broadcasting, labor/social welfare, and education ministries also play critical roles.