The WHO’s framework on mental health policy offers guidance for strengthening leadership, governance, service delivery, and workforce capacity for mental health. The five modules highlight:
- mental health’s connection to social and structural determinants—such as poverty, housing, education, and employment—offering actionable strategies to address these, combat stigma and discrimination, and expand access to care.
- the crucial role of people with lived experience in shaping inclusive, responsive systems
- the role of advocates for cross-sector collaboration to deliver holistic support, integrating lifestyle, and physical health, psychological, social, and economic interventions while promoting well-being and prevention.
This Guidance focuses on the protection of the rights of everyone who interacts with mental health systems and services, regardless of their condition, diagnosis, psychosocial disability status, or how they may identify themselves. It includes individuals with mental health conditions, psychosocial disabilities, and those experiencing temporary or ongoing distress or crises. People with intellectual or cognitive disabilities, neurological conditions, or who use alcohol and other psychoactive substances are also included to the extent that they use mental health services and face related issues alongside their other conditions.
Access the modules through the following links: