The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasised the need for greater accessibility to mental health services worldwide.
During the recent launch of its new guidance aimed at helping countries reform and strengthen mental health policies and systems, WHO’s Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, highlighted that despite rising demand, quality mental health services remain out of reach for many people.
The WHO pointed out that mental health services across the globe remain underfunded, with significant gaps in both access and quality. In some countries, up to 90 per cent of people with severe mental health conditions receive no care, while many existing services rely on outdated institutional models that fail to meet international human rights standards.
The new guidance offers a clear framework to transform mental health services in line with the latest evidence and human rights standards, ensuring quality care is accessible to all.
Guyana has been increasing its focus on mental health by introducing new structures and local guidelines with support from the WHO and PAHO.
In 2024, the Ministry of Health launched the National Mental Health Action Plan and the National Suicide Prevention Plan 2024–2030.
According to Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, mental health is integral to well-being, but is often overlooked or stigmatised. He noted that in Guyana, as in many other countries, mental health issues affect individuals, families, and communities, impacting every aspect of life.
The National Mental Health Action Plan 2024 to 2030 sets out a comprehensive framework for addressing mental health needs, promoting mental well-being, and ensuring access to quality mental health services for all Guyanese.
The plan presents a holistic approach that prioritises prevention, promotion, treatment, and recovery, advocating for the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare and community settings.
This approach aligns directly with the WHO’s new guidance. The guidance outlines several key areas for action, including protecting and upholding human rights, ensuring that mental health policies and services are in line with international human rights standards, and promoting holistic care that incorporates lifestyle, physical health, psychological, social, and economic interventions.
It also stresses the importance of addressing social and economic factors such as employment, housing, and education, which shape and affect mental health, as well as implementing population-wide mental health and well-being strategies.
The guidance also highlights the importance of ensuring that people with lived experience are empowered to participate in the planning and design of mental health policies to ensure they are responsive to their needs.
The guidance identifies five key policy areas requiring urgent reform: leadership and governance, service organisation, workforce development, person-centred interventions, and addressing social and structural determinants of mental health.
It serves as a critical tool for governments, policymakers, and stakeholders working to strengthen mental health systems and improve access to mental health care. By offering a menu of policy directives, strategies, and actions, the guidance supports policymakers in prioritising and tailoring policies to their specific national contexts, in line with available resources and operational structures.
Developed in consultation with global experts, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience, the guidance builds on the WHO QualityRights initiative, which promotes a person-centred, recovery-oriented, and rights-based approach to mental health.
WHO will assist countries in implementing the guidance through technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives.
