The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidance aimed at helping countries reform and enhance their mental health policies and systems. Mental health services globally are significantly underfunded, leading to critical gaps in both access and quality of care. In some regions, up to 90% of individuals with severe mental health conditions go without any treatment, while many existing services are based on outdated institutional models that do not comply with international human rights standards.
This guidance outlines a clear framework for modernizing mental health services in accordance with the latest evidence and human rights principles, ensuring that quality care is accessible to all individuals.
“Despite increasing demand, many people are still unable to access quality mental health services,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This new guidance equips governments with the necessary tools to promote mental health and develop systems that serve everyone effectively.”
A Vision for Mental Health Care Reform
Although effective prevention and treatment options are available, many individuals living with mental health conditions remain without access. The new WHO guidance delineates specific actions that countries can take to address these disparities and promote mental health, focusing on several key areas:
Upholding and protecting human rights by aligning mental health policies and services with international standards.
Emphasizing holistic care that includes lifestyle and physical health, as well as psychological, social, and economic interventions.
Addressing social and economic factors impacting mental health, including employment, housing, and education.
Implementing prevention measures to promote overall mental health and well-being across populations.
Empowering individuals with lived experiences to actively participate in policy planning and design, ensuring that mental health services meet their needs.
The guidance highlights five critical policy areas that require immediate reform: leadership and governance, service organization, workforce development, person-centered care, and addressing the social and structural determinants of mental health.
A Customized Approach to Strengthening Mental Health Systems
The WHO guidance is a vital resource for governments, policymakers, and stakeholders dedicated to enhancing mental health systems and improving access to care.
By providing a comprehensive set of policy directives, strategies, and actions, this guidance assists policymakers in prioritizing and adapting policies to their national context, resource availability, and operational frameworks.
“This new guidance from WHO offers practical strategies for countries to establish inclusive, responsive, and resilient mental health systems. It is designed to be flexible, enabling low-, middle-, and high-income countries to tailor their mental health approaches based on their unique contexts and needs,” said Dr. Michelle Funk, Unit Head of Policy, Law and Human Rights in the WHO Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Developing and Implementing the Guidance
The guidance has been developed with input from global experts, policymakers, and individuals with lived experiences of mental health challenges. It builds on the resources and tools established by the WHO QualityRights initiative, which promotes a recovery-oriented, rights-based approach to mental health. WHO will support countries in implementing this guidance through technical assistance and capacity-building efforts.