WHO has developed a tool, the WHO Assessment Instrument
for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS), to collect
essential information on the mental health system of a
country or region. This instrument has been developed
for the specific needs of countries with low and middle
incomes. It includes many input and process indicators
and ordinal rating scales that facilitate the data collection
process, since data are often not available for outcome
indicators in many of these countries. WHO-AIMS produces
comprehensive assessments and covers links with other
sectors. For example, WHO-AIMS assesses the services
and supports that are provided in primary care for people
with mental disorders, and includes items which are highly
relevant to countries with low and middle incomes such as
paraprofessional primary health care workers and traditional
healers. The instrument can also be easily adapted to collect
data for neurological and substance use disorders.