Published in:
Open Access
01-12-2017 | Commentary
Mental health services conceptualised as complex adaptive systems: what can be learned?
Authors:
Louise A. Ellis, Kate Churruca, Jeffrey Braithwaite
Published in:
International Journal of Mental Health Systems
|
Issue 1/2017
Login to get access
Abstract
Despite many attempts at promoting systems integration, seamless care, and partnerships among service providers and users, mental health services internationally continue to be fragmented and piecemeal. We exploit recent ideas from complexity science to conceptualise mental health services as complex adaptive systems (CASs). The core features of CASs are described and Australia’s headspace initiative is used as an example of the kinds of problems currently being faced. We argue that adopting a CAS lens can transform services, creating more connected care for service users with mental health conditions.