The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched new guidelines to help all countries reform and strengthen mental health policies and systems. Mental health services worldwide remain underfunded, with major gaps in access and quality. In some countries, 90% of people with severe mental health conditions receive no care at all. There is a lot more reliance on outdated methods that fail to meet international standards. The Guidance provides a framework for transforming mental health services in line with the latest evidence and international human rights standards, ensuring that quality care is accessible to all.

The Blueprint aimed to focus on:

• Protecting and upholding human rights, ensuring mental health policies and services are aligned with international human rights standards.
• Promoting holistic care with an emphasis on lifestyle and physical health, as well as psychological, social, and economic interventions.
• Addressing social and economic factors that shape and affect mental health, including employment, housing and education.
• Implementing prevention strategies and promoting population-wide mental health and well-being.
• Ensuring people with lived experience are empowered to participate in policy planning and design mental health policies and services that are responsive to their needs.

The guidelines provide practical strategies for countries to develop inclusive, responsive, and resilient mental health systems. Designed to be flexible, it enables all countries, regardless of their income level, to tailor their approach to mental health care to their national context, needs, and priorities. 

(WHO)