Our Chair, Dr El-Chammay,
Members of the Strategic Technical Advisory Group on mental health, brain health and substance use,
Dear colleagues and friends,
Thank-you for agreeing to serve on this STAG, and for developing such a rich set of recommendations for my consideration.
I am impressed by how wide-ranging and how focused you have been in thinking about the strategic challenges and needs that face WHO in the area of mental health, brain health and substance use.
I will provide some initial reactions and comments in relation to the three major themes you have identified:
First, in the area of strategic value and policy coherence:
I agree with the suggestion to develop an over-arching conceptual framework to bring together the links between mental health, brain health and substance use.
Such a framework can promote a more integrated and holistic response to the enormous burden that mental, neurological and substance use conditions pose for countries.
It can also hopefully contribute to a greater understanding of these often-stigmatised areas of health.
It is imperative that we transcend siloed disease-specific approaches and encourage closer collaboration between psychiatry, neurology and substance use professions as an integral element of primary health care.
You also referred to the need for greater attention to the social and other determinants of mental health conditions. The framework could show how many of the risk factors are shared and so can be more holistically addressed.
I appreciate the STAG’s feedback on areas of work that you see as representing new areas to prioritise.
Second, in the area of governance and leadership:
We have seen an unprecedented level of interest from countries in addressing mental health conditions over the last few years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, WHO launched new global action plans on alcohol and neurological disorders, while mental health featured on the programmes of many of our Regional Committees.
However, you are right to point out that implementation is often patchy and held back by a lack of resources at the national level.
We should seek to bolster accountability with sustained financial support and more technical collaboration between countries, WHO, and other international partners.
Dedicated leadership programmes in mental health can offer an effective way to translate high-level commitments into international action plans and country-level targets.
The third area you considered is communications, partnerships and media.
Under this theme, you made reference to several groups that should be further capacitated, including journalists, donors, civil society organizations and people with lived experience, as well as WHO’s own staff.
Starting with WHO, I have expanded opportunities for staff to learn about and discuss mental health issues, and expanded their access to mental health services.
One area for further development is the use of clearer messaging on mental health issues for communication with partners and the public.
I take particular note of your recommendation to engage, support and empower people with lived experience of mental health conditions in policy, planning and service provision.
We need to walk the talk when it comes to this, just as we are doing with the WHO Youth Council, which advises us on mental health and other matters from the perspective of those we are serving.
Similarly, we have also recently developed a Framework for Meaningful Engagement of People Living with Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Conditions, to contribute to closer engagement and collaboration.
I thank you again for sharing your expertise and experience with us as we work together develop a more coherent and effective plan for the future. Your engagement makes a real difference in helping us support better mental health care for all.
I thank you.