Integrated Lifespan Mental Health Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Narrative Review

Low- and middle-income countries face a persistent mismatch between high psychosocial need, limited specialist capacity, delayed detection, fragmented follow-up, and rising burdens across the life course. This narrative review examines integrated lifespan mental health care as a practical framework for strengthening assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, safety, and prevention across clinical and community settings. The review synthesizes evidence and clinical lessons across child and adolescent disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, substance-use disorders, perinatal distress, neurocognitive impairment, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy-related presentations, medication safety, and service quality improvement. Across these domains, several priorities emerge: early recognition in general practice, culturally acceptable screening, stepped psychological and pharmacological interventions, family and caregiver involvement, structured risk formulation, neurocognitive and neurological vigilance, metabolic monitoring, continuity after discharge, and quality-improvement methods that protect patients and staff. The review argues that effective lifespan care in resource-constrained systems requires more than specialist expansion alone. It depends on coordinated pathways linking primary care, psychiatry, psychology, neurology, maternal health, addiction services, rehabilitation, and community support. Integrated lifespan models can improve access, clinical safety, adherence, functional recovery, and equity when adapted to local workforce, cultural, economic, and health-system realities.