The programme conducted an analysis of existing mental health policies in poor countries; provided interventions to assist in the development and implementation of mental health policies in those countries; and evaluated the policy implementation over a 5-year period.

MHaPP was conducted in four African countries that represent a variety of scenarios in mental health policy development and implementation:

• Ghana
• South Africa
• Uganda
• Zambia

In addition to research and Ministry of Health partners in each country, the consortium collaborated with the following international partners who lead themes across all four countries:

• World Health Organization
• University of Leeds
• University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Human Sciences Research Council

Strategies for making mental health care accessible to poor communities were documented, for instance, through primary health care and non-health sectors, with an emphasis on promoting mental health and providing care for those who needed it most, and could least afford it. Capacity was developed in mental health research, policy making, service planning and service delivery. By the end of the 5-year project, MHaPP was able to provide a coherent body of high quality policy relevant new knowledge to assist other developing countries to break the cycle of poverty and mental ill-health.