Table_1_Can participatory processes lead to changes in the configuration of local mental health networks? A social network analysis.docx

Systems modeling offers a valuable tool to support strategic decision-making for complex problems because it considers the causal inter-relationships that drive population health outcomes. This tool can be used to simulate policies and initiatives to determine which combinations are likely to deliver the greatest impacts and returns on investment. Systems modeling benefits from participatory approaches where a multidisciplinary stakeholder group actively engages in mapping and contextualizing causal mechanisms driving complex system behaviors. Such approaches can have significant advantages, including that they may improve connection and coordination of the network of stakeholders operating across the system; however, these are often observed in practice as colloquial anecdotes and seldom formally assessed. We used a basic social network analysis to explore the impact on the configuration of the network of mental health providers, decision-makers, and other stakeholders in Bogota, Colombia active in a series of three workshops throughout 2021 and 2022. Overall, our analysis suggests that the participatory process of the systems dynamics exercise impacts the social network’s structure, relationships, and dynamics.

系统建模（Systems modeling）是支撑复杂问题战略决策的宝贵工具，因其能够考量驱动人群健康结局的因果关联关系。该工具可用于模拟各类政策与举措，以筛选出最有可能产生最大影响与投资回报的组合方案。系统建模可借助参与式方法开展工作：由多利益相关方跨学科小组主动参与绘制并情境化阐释驱动复杂系统行为的因果机制。此类方法具备多项显著优势，例如可提升跨系统运作的利益相关方网络的联结与协同效能；但在实际场景中，这类优势常以口语化轶事的形式被记录，极少得到正式评估。本研究采用基础社会网络分析（Social Network Analysis）方法，针对哥伦比亚波哥大市的精神卫生服务提供者、决策者及其他利益相关方所构成的网络，探究其结构配置所受的影响——该网络中的参与主体均于2021至2022年间参与了系列共三场研讨会。总体而言，本研究的分析结果表明，系统动力学实践的参与式流程会对社会网络的结构、联结关系与动态演化特征产生影响。