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Table 1 Drivers for change themes

From: Possibilities for the future of global mental health: a scenario planning approach

Drivers for change

• Advances in technology

• Climate change

• Rising political instability

• Increasing urbanisation

• Increasing national economic growth (e.g. middle-income becoming high-income country)

• Countries becoming more inward-looking and nationalist

• Poorer international relations and reduced international collaboration

• Increasing war and conflict

• Increasing universality of languages

• Increasing migration

• Rising role of big data

• Widening social and economic inequalities within countries

• Other global health challenges becoming more important (e.g. Antimicrobial resistance)

• Improved access to education

• Increasingly ageing population

• Increasingly proactive role of young people in society

• Increasing patient and public involvement

• Increasing human rights movements

• Increasing political prioritisation of mental health issues

• General increase in the rapidity of global development and change

• Increasing privatisation of health services

• Increasing funding for mental health