The International Mental Health Benchmarking Project
2026 Project
International Benchmarking Findings
Eight countries. One dataset. What international benchmarking tells us about the future of mental health care.
The NHS Benchmarking Network, in collaboration with the Global Leadership Exchange, has built one of the most comprehensive international mental health benchmarking datasets available. The 2026 report covers community models, inpatient capacity, workforce, investment and patient outcomes across eight countries.
The final report and interactive dashboard are now available to download from this page.
We will be sharing the headline findings and our vision for how this community of practice can grow and strengthen over the coming years at two webinar sessions being held on the 12th and 13th of August 2026. Whether you are an existing participant or exploring involvement for the first time, we welcome your interest - please get in touch if you would like to find out more.
Our events
International Benchmarking Findings Webinar - Session 1
Wednesday 12 August 2026, 14:30 - 16:00 - Register here
International Benchmarking Findings Webinar - Session 2
Thursday 13 August 2026, 08:00 - 09:30 - Register here
What does the dataset include?
This data collection forms part of the International Mental Health Benchmarking Network 2026, bringing together countries to better understand, compare, and improve mental health services worldwide. It provides a baseline for capturing how mental health care is funded, organised, delivered, and experienced across different systems. Work to strengthen these measures to support wider collaboration is at the core of the aims of the work, and as such the data should be interpreted with caution given to the varying models across healthcare systems.
At its core, the dataset looks at the full mental health journey. It begins with national context, including population coverage and overall spending on mental health relative to wider healthcare budgets. This helps to highlight how countries prioritise mental health within their systems.
The collection then explores how services are structured. It captures the range of support available, from community teams and crisis services through to inpatient care, as well as specialist services such as perinatal, forensic, and dementia care. It also considers national policies, targets, and quality frameworks that shape how care is delivered.
Access to care is a key focus. Countries provide data on how many people use services, how long they wait, and how care is delivered (including digital options). Inpatient and community services are examined in detail, including activity levels, capacity, and workforce.
Importantly, the dataset goes beyond clinical care. It includes wider factors such as housing and employment, recognising their impact on mental health and recovery. Workforce information is also captured to understand the people delivering care across different roles.
Finally, the collection examines outcomes and experience, including whether people improve with treatment and how they feel about the care they receive. It also highlights how service users’ voices are included in shaping services.
Overall, this dataset provides a rounded picture of mental health systems, helping countries learn from each other and identify practical ways to improve care and outcomes globally.
A Brief History
Since 2016, 15 countries have taken part in one or more of the international benchmarking project cycles as part of the bi-annual leadership exchange. The project has been delivered in partnership with the Global Leadership Exchange. There have been three previous cycles of this project: 2016, 2019 and 2022.
Participating countries in the NHS Benchmarking Network International Mental Health Project (2016-2022):
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Australia
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Belgium
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Canada
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Czechia
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England
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Japan
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Netherlands
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New Zealand
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Northern Ireland
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Norway
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Republic of Ireland
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Scotland
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Sweden
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Switzerland
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United States of America
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Wales
In 2024, the NHS Benchmarking Network and GLE agreed to pause the international mental health project. This was an opportunity to reassess interest, review the focus and impact of the project and create a sustainable model of delivery.
An event chaired by NHS England, GLE and NHSBN where best practice speakers shared service transformation developments designed to meet changing care needs.
Children and young people's mental health services: Sharing international models of care
International Comparison Reports:
2019
2022
2026
International Mental Health Comparisons: Child & Adolescent, Adult & Older Adult Services
14 Participating Countries
International Mental Health Comparisons: Child & Adolescent, Adult & Older Adult Services
12 Participating Countries
2018
International Mental Health Comparisons: Adult and Older Adult Services
14 Participating Countries
International Mental Health Comparisons: Child & Adolescent, Adult & Older Adult Services
8 Participating Countries