Nearly a billion people worldwide suffer from mental health problems, including around 260 million in the WHO South-East Asia region. Inadequate investment in mental health services and the health workforce has led to significant treatment gaps in the Region, which have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the need urgent need to expand community mental health services.
“We must make mental health and well-being a priority for all by reorienting and integrating mental health services into primary health care, ensuring equitable and affordable access to care and services,” said the Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Region. .
Mental disorders remain among the top ten causes of morbidity worldwide, with no sign of a downward trend since 1990.
Lack of trained professionals and resources, stigma around mental illness, lack of prevention and promotion of interventions are some of the main regional challenges in ensuring universal access to mental health care.
Aiming to support member countries in scaling up community mental health services in the WHO South-East Asia region, experts, stakeholders from governmental and non-governmental sectors and partner agencies exchanged knowledge and experiences to address gaps and scale up mental health services at a regional meeting hosted by WHO in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 20-22.
The expansion of community mental health services, adapted to the context of different countries, was at the center of discussions which also focused on climate change and mental health, the reform of mental health services, financing and delivery systems. ‘information.
The WHO regional mental health dashboard for South-East Asia, providing access to data on the prevalence and burden of mental, neurological, substance use and self-harm in countries of the Region, was launched at the meeting.
WHO strongly advocates for community health care as an alternative to institutional care, widely known to increase accessibility, close treatment gaps, reduce stigma, better protect human rights and improve outcomes.
The reorganization of mental health services from psychiatric hospitals to community mental health services is a key component of the WHO Regional Mental Health Action Plan for South-East Asia.
To promote and accelerate mental health services, member countries in the WHO South-East Asia region adopted the historic Paro Declaration in 2022 committing to universal access to health care and services person-centered mentality.
The Region’s significant progress in providing mental health services intersects with several key WHO regional priorities.
“There is no health without mental health and together we must deepen our commitment, reshape environments and strengthen care to transform mental health, for better lives and futures for all,” said the Regional Director .
Link to WHO regional mental health dashboard for South-East Asia: https://sebi.searo.who.int/t/HST/views/SEAR_MNSS_Dashboard_v1_13/Story1/
