How to Make Societies Thrive? Coordinating Approaches to Promote Well-being and Mental
Health
Good mental health is a vital part of people’s well-being. This report uses the OECD
Well-being Framework to systematically review how people’s economic, social, relational,
civic and environmental experiences shape and are, in turn, shaped by their mental
health. Based on this evidence, examples of co-benefits, or policy interventions that
can jointly improve both mental health and other well-being outcomes, are identified
for a range of government departments. Implementing and sustaining such co-benefits
requires resources, incentives and working arrangements that enable all relevant stakeholders
to contribute to tackling the upstream determinants of mental health. Selected mental
health initiatives across OECD countries are reviewed to illustrate how policy makers
have been realigning action across government agencies; redesigning policy formulation
to address the joint factors influencing mental health; refocusing efforts towards
the promotion of positive mental health; and reconnecting with societal stakeholders
beyond government, including those with lived experience, youth, civil society and
research institutions. How to Make Societies Thrive? Coordinating Approaches to Promote
Well-being and Mental Health is the second of two reports as part of a broader OECD
project on mental health and well-being.
Published on October 17, 2023