In 2022, the Member States of WHO South-East Asia Region made a commitment to promote and facilitate access to community-based mental health services. This was done through the adoption of the Paro Declaration on universal access to people-centred mental health care and services. Following this declaration, the Mental health action plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region 2023–2030 was introduced. This action plan has four main objectives, with Objective 2 focusing on providing comprehensive, integrated, and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings.
The action plan includes an extensive menu of options provided to expand and strengthen community-based mental health services in WHO South-East Asia Region Member States. Under Objective 2, there are various strategies outlined to improve access to mental health services in communities. These include establishing more day care centres and rehabilitation centres that provide care and support options for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities in the community. Additionally, the action plan aims to increase the number of supported living facilities, including both long and short-stay options.
Furthermore, the Mental Health Action Plan includes indicators to track progress towards achieving its objectives. These indicators will help assess the success of various initiatives aimed at expanding community-based mental health services in WHO South-East Asia Region Member States. Some of these indicators include the number of general hospitals with mental health units, which will help ensure that people have access to specialized care when needed. Additionally, other indicators will focus on tracking the number of supported living facilities available for individuals with mental health conditions or psychosocial disabilities.
Overall, this action plan is a significant step forward in promoting accessible and effective mental health services in communities across WHO South-East Asia Region Member States. By expanding community-based mental health services and tracking progress towards achieving its objectives, this plan aims to improve outcomes for individuals who face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare systems or who require specialized care outside of hospitals or clinics.
In conclusion, The Mental Health Action Plan for WHO South East Asia Region 2023–2030 is a vital step towards improving accessibility and effectiveness of mental healthcare in communities across region member states through expansion of community based mental healthcare services. The inclusion of indicators will help track progress towards achieving its objectives such as increasing number of general hospitals with ment