Research in social and healthcare policy is underdeveloped in Spain and, in most cases, has not incorporated the new paradigms of care and decision-making. The latter is currently based on the paradigm of ‘evidence-informed’ approaches (data and expert knowledge interacting closely), which view social and healthcare systems as dynamic and complex ecosystems (system + context). Analysing such systems requires a multidisciplinary approach, employing mixed qualitative-quantitative methods, multiple sources of information, and hybrid data analysis systems (including AI). Among these new analysis methods are realistic synthesis, logical models for multidimensional categorisation, and other systems that facilitate impact analysis and decision-making monitoring.

The research will contribute to the area of social policies and mental health management, and make a decisive contribution to supporting decision-making and designing policies in these fields.