Mental health policy development for young adults by local and national governments: interview study

Abstract Background National and local governments play an important role in improving mental health among young adults. However, the processes underpinning policy development, implementation, and evaluation remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate these policymaking processes, with particular focus on the integration of scientific evidence and the prioritisation of actions, to inform the optimisation of policy frameworks and the development of more effective mental health strategies. Methods Interviews were conducted with 25 local and 8 national Dutch policymakers involved in the development of mental health policies for young adults. The data obtained were systematically analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Policymakers at both local and national levels identified mental health as a complex, cross-sectoral issue, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches. Local governments varied in their strategies for addressing mental health, influenced by the extensive range of intervention options and decision-maker preferences. Smaller local governments indicated that they prioritized strong collaborations with other local governments in the region. All local governments underscored the importance of fostering robust partnerships with stakeholders such as schools, community centers, research institutions, and young adults. While all policymakers acknowledged the importance of integrating scientific evidence into policy development, key barriers included limited access to relevant data, time constraints, and insufficient resources to perform thorough policy evaluations. Conclusions Stakeholder collaboration is a key priority to develop mental health policies. Challenges in relevant mental health data access, coupled with limited resources to conduct rigorous policy evaluations, underscore the need for tailored evaluation approaches. Addressing these aspects is essential to improve policy implementation and maximizing its impact on young adults’ mental health.