Integrating Oral Health into Mental Health Policy: A Neglected Public Health Priority

This policy brief examines the bidirectional relationship between oral health and mental health and highlights the persistent exclusion of oral health within mental health policies and programs. Drawing on established evidence from oral health and psychiatric research, the brief identifies key policy gaps related to screening, workforce training, financing, and data integration. It proposes pragmatic and scalable policy actions to support integrated, preventive, and equity-oriented care, with relevance across diverse health system contexts.