Extracts below from a press release. Full text here: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-06-2022-who-highlights-urgent-need-to-t...
WHO highlights urgent need to transform mental health and mental health care
Report urges mental health decision makers and advocates to step up commitment and action to change attitudes, actions and approaches to mental health, its determinants and mental health care.
17 June 2022 News release Geneva
The World Health Organization today released its largest review of world mental health since the turn of the century...
In 2019, nearly a billion people... were living with a mental disorder. Suicide accounted for more than 1 in 100 deaths... Depression and anxiety went up by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone.
Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations against people with mental health conditions are widespread in communities and care systems everywhere...
71% of those with psychosis worldwide do not receive mental health services... minimally-adequate treatment for depression is estimated to range from 23% in high-income countries to 3% in low- and lower-middle-income countries...
The report urges all countries to accelerate their implementation of the Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2030. It makes several recommendations for action, which are grouped into three ‘paths to transformation’...
1. Deepen the value and commitment we give to mental health...
2. Reshape environments that influence mental health, including homes, communities, schools, workplaces, health care services, natural environments...
3. Strengthen mental health care by changing where, how, and by whom mental health care is delivered and received...
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
Working in official relations with WHO
SELECTED EXTRACTS
At the start of the pandemic, poor knowledge, rumours and misinformation about the virus fuelled fears and worries. Extensive media coverage of illness, death and misfortune have further contributed to population distress.
The reality is that most people may not have access to evidence-based information on opportunities that can promote their mental health.
Relevant and reliable information and research are needed to ensure that transformative policies, plans and evaluations for mental health reform are informed by evidence.
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Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
Working in official relations with WHO
