ABSTRACT
In spite of the vast improvement in the area of mental health care delivery in this country, very little attention has been given to the mental health registry. Considering the absence of an appropriate national mental health registry system in Iran. The purpose of the present study was to formulate a preliminary model for Mental Health registry in Iran. In this comparative research the national mental health registry system of the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Iran were analytically reviewed. The data were collected via library sources, websites, and consultation with specialists in and out of the country. The recommendations were provided for mental health registry system in Iran taking the cultural, economical and geographical status of the country under consideration. A six-axis model for a national registry was proposed. The study revealed that in order to optimize the present registry system of Iran, it is necessary to review the goals, structure, data elements, information gathering techniques, registration criteria, present classification of national registration of mental health on the proposed model. The lack of a national mental health registry system in Iran has faced this country with serious problems of control and prevention of the mental health diseases, conducting epidemiological research, developing of policies and strategies for controlling the costs of mental research can serve as basis for resolving most of the mental health problems stated in above