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Almost one billion people globally live with mental health conditions of which approximately 260 million people live in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Inadequate investment in mental health services and the health workforce have resulted in large treatment gaps in the region which was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the urgent need for expanding community-based mental health services.
“We need to make mental health and wellbeing 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 WHO South-East Asia Region Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
Mental disorders have remained among the top 10 leading causes of disease burden worldwide with no sign of reducing trend since 1990.
Lack of trained professionals, and resources, stigma around mental illness, lack of prevention and promotion of interventions are some of the key regional challenges in ensuring universal access to mental health care.
With an aim to support member countries expand community mental health services in the WHO South-East Asia Region, experts, stakeholders from the 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 convened by WHO in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 20-22 June.
Expanding community mental health services, relevant to the context of different countries was the key focus of discussions which also included climate change and mental health, reforming mental health services, financing, and information systems.
The WHO South-East Asia Regional Mental Health Dashboard to access data on the prevalence and the burden of specific mental, neurological, substance use conditions and self-harm in the countries of the Region was launched at the meeting.
WHO has been strongly advocating for community-based health care as an alternative to institutional care broadly acknowledged to increase accessibility, close treatment gaps, reduce stigma, better protect human rights, and improve outcomes.
The reorganisation of mental health services away from psychiatric hospitals towards community-based mental health services is an essential component of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Mental Health Action Plan.
To promote and accelerate mental health services, Member countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region in 2022 adopted the landmark Paro Declaration committing to Universal Access to People Centred Mental Health Care and Services.
The region’s strong progress on the provision of mental health services cuts across several of WHO Regional Flagship Priorities.
“There is no health without mental health and together we must deepen commitment, reshape environments, and strengthen care to transform mental health, for a better life and future for all,” said the Regional Director.
