Section 9: Mental health
Equal rights and opportunities mean better health for women and girls: how is WHO contributing?
WHO has completed a systematic evidence review on maternal mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries. WHO has also provided support for the implementation of a maternal mental health demonstration programme in Eritrea, and support to Ethiopia and Nigeria in completing a needs assessment for maternal mental health. "Guidance on maternal mental health" is also being prepared.
In WHO's work to support countries to develop mental health policies, laws and services, it emphasizes the need to address specific issues related to women's health and human rights. These issues include the requirement to provide: separate sleeping facilities for women; comparable living conditions to those afforded to men; protection from physical and sexual abuse; protection of confidentiality, and in particular that information about women's mental health status is not released without their explicit consent.