WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020
The WHO (World Health Organization) has released a new Mental Health Action Plan for the period 2013-2020. It is part of the WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health.
WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health
The WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (SIMH) is a five-year programme that aims to improve mental health care and services in 12 countries. Its targets include ensuring quality mental health services, improving care for 100 million more people and increasing the availability of mental health information.
WHO’s approach has inspired countries to address taboo topics like suicide prevention. It also increases the capacity of countries to develop policies and develop programs.
In addition, the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health provides targeted technical and financial support to participating countries. This includes conducting country assessments, developing policies, training primary healthcare workers and supporting those experiencing humanitarian crises.
Inclusion of mental health in the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Inclusion of mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals is an important milestone for the global health community. It has the potential to shape the development agenda, and offer key opportunities to influence mental health. However, the process of inclusion has not been clear. Ultimately, a number of factors will need to be considered when evaluating the effectiveness of the SDGs.
The first of these is the definition of “mental health”. This is the state of well-being that individuals experience when they deal with normal challenges in life. Mental health can be enhanced through various professional disciplines and within the community.
Inclusion of mental health in the Sustainable Development goals has been an effort to draw attention to the neglect of this topic in national policymaking. It has also been an attempt to identify specific metrics for measuring progress in this area.
Implementation options for WHO’s Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020
The WHO Mental Health Action Plan is a call to action, and it contains a set of objectives, targets and a menu of policy options. Each country has an opportunity to implement the plan in order to reach the Plan’s objectives.
The Plan aims to promote mental well-being, prevent and treat mental disorders and promote recovery from illness. While the Plan is aimed at low and middle-income countries, many of the proposed actions are applicable to high-income countries, especially since mental illness is a significant development issue.
A World Economic Forum study predicts that the health costs of mental disorders will reach $6 trillion by 2030. These costs will increase if the global health system does not adequately respond to mental health conditions.
Psychological First Aid: Guide for Field Workers
Psychological first aid is an evidence-informed intervention for mental health that focuses on reducing distress and connecting people with services. It focuses on providing help that meets the current needs and provides a framework for supporting people in ways that respect their dignity.
It can be used by mental health workers, first responders, general population shelters, and others who are concerned about a crisis. It can be provided in different settings, including hospitals, private homes, and schools.
Although it was initially developed for low-income countries, it can be used in a variety of locations. Psychological first aid can be a good support for individuals and families after a disaster. In addition, it can also be useful in a variety of other situations.
FundaMentalSDG
Mental health is a cross-cutting issue that intersects with many other UN development goals, including those related to education, health, economic development, and environment. Yet, mental health is often not a priority in developing countries. This is a major problem.
One of the simplest ways to improve mental health is to ensure that people can access timely, quality care. There are many ways to do this. For instance, ensuring that people can exercise their right to consent when receiving medical treatment is important. Also, providing culturally appropriate care is essential.
Another way to improve mental health is to increase the amount of money that is spent on it. According to the World Health Organization, the best strategy is to “invest in improving the physical and mental health of the entire population, not just those in richer nations”. In addition, governments must commit to adequate budgets for mental health services.
National Center for Mental Health’s Crisis Hotline
The National Center for Mental Health’s Crisis Hotline is a service that connects people in crisis to resources that can help. It’s not uncommon for people to experience a mental health crisis, and it can be devastating to both the individual and their families.
Often, these crises lead to emergency room visits and a lack of access to care. Depending on the situation, individuals might find themselves in the criminal justice system, or even worse, losing their lives. However, a crisis hotline can offer support and guidance to prevent these scenarios from escalating.
The National Center for Mental Health’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a new mental health emergency phone number. Similar to 911, this service connects callers to trained crisis counselors.
