Methods for Leveraging Evidence-Based Policies to Support Children’s Mental Health
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Children’s mental health is an essential component of their overall health and well-being. This paper highlights methodologies to support identification and implementation of evidence-based policy options to promote children’s mental health and well-being. Methods Systems mapping, policy analysis, and legal epidemiology were used in various studies to systematically identify and track laws affecting children’s mental health, identify policy levers that could influence the systems affecting children’s mental health, and assess feasibility of policy options to determine which are most likely to improve children’s mental health. Results We assessed the feasibility of several policies that affect children’s mental health. Systems mapping was used to identify policy levers that could influence the children’s mental health, including workforce requirements and policies related to schools, insurance, housing, and income security. Separately, policy analyses were conducted to identify and share evidence related to upstream policies that can have positive impacts on children’s mental health outcomes. These analyses found that indicators of housing quality were associated with health outcomes, suggesting the potential for housing policy to improve health and reduce health care costs. Additionally, we used legal epidemiology to assess several policies related to children’s mental health, including laws affecting telehealth, behavioral health workers, economic security, and access to ADHD treatment. Lastly, we analyzed how implementation of economic policies could be expanded and improved to better support children’s mental health. Conclusion Decision makers, practitioners, researchers, and community members are all working to identify strategies to improve children’s overall mental health and well-being. It is particularly important to consider methodologies that support identification of more upstream and systemic strategies as well as laws and policies to promote mental health and reduce social and structural barriers that may impair mental health.
Source: Health Open Research
Institution: ChangeLab Solutions
Language: English
Topic: Child and Adolescent Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7221817606