Table 4 SWOT analysis on formulation process

Strengths

Weaknesses

 • There is a new national programme with a motivated team

 • No formal national committee or working group was formed for the development of the national strategy; no written mandate for roles and responsibilities

 • Commitment of the Ministry of Health (MoH)/national programme to coordinate with all and involve all

 • No structured process was followed; nothing was documented

 • Leadership of the MoH and the national programme were key to success

 • No follow-up was conducted with stakeholders regarding implementation plans and monitoring and evaluation

 • Mental health is now a priority for the MoH

 • No transparency with regard to implementation plans or progress reports and roles and responsibilities were not defined

 • The Mental Health Strategy is in place and serves as a guiding roadmap

 • Some stakeholders were not involved (see traffic light)

 • Public was not informed about the strategy

 • Accountability mechanisms were weak/almost absent; no standards, sanctions or enforcement mechanisms were set

Opportunities

Threats/Challenges

 • Availability of funding by donors

 • Sustainability unclear once the funds are exhausted

 • All stakeholders were motivated to be involved

 • Lack of strategic planning of next steps and resource mobilisation

 • Political commitment positively influenced the strategy to include all people, not just Lebanese and vulnerable groups; plans exist to encourage the establishment of patient support groups

 • Accountability is a cultural issue that is related to what is right and wrong and remains a vague concept

 • Technical support was provided by international agencies as well as international and local experts

 • Need to pass the amendments on the current law and enforcement

 • Receiving funding from the government

 • Governance requires institutional capacity, appropriate structure and sustainable financial resources