2025 Editor's Choice

Objectives

Limited evidence exists for strategic actions in improving mental health at the youth population–level, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates the health and economic impacts of intersectoral mental health programs to inform the optimal suite of interventions for young people in Bogotá, Colombia, where many are at risk of mental disorders and lack access to appropriate health services.

Methods

This study evaluated 9 interventions compared with business as usual over a projected 10-year time horizon using a system dynamics model developed through a participatory process involving diverse local stakeholders. Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for uncertainties from a healthcare payer perspective.

Results

Anti-bullying, community-based rehabilitation, and online mental health programs were dominant. General practitioner mental health training and gatekeeper suicide prevention training could significantly improve mental health outcomes at an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio below the threshold of US dollars $4890/quality-adjusted life-years. Nevertheless, simultaneously implementing all 9 strategies could produce a synergistic effect, yielding the greatest benefit relative to business as usual with an incremental net monetary benefit of $465 million and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $586 per quality-adjusted life-years gained.

Conclusions

Combined intersectoral mental health strategies were synergistic and resulted in optimal health outcomes relative to business as usual. The system dynamics approach offers additional attributes to economic evaluation in mental health settings by considering capacity constraints, unintended consequences, and interactions between multiple interventions. It is a valuable approach for decision-makers to effectively and efficiently prioritize and allocate scarce resources in complex public health systems.