Government officials, hospital directors and health experts have endorsed a roadmap to expand access to mental health treatment and support services in Lao PDR. This happened on 17 November at a national stakeholder consultation meeting on mental health, opened by Vice Minister of Health Dr. Bounfeng PHOMMALAYSITH and WHO Representative to Lao PDR Dr Mark JACOBS. The roadmap calls for expansion of treatment and support services for people with, or at risk of, depression (the most common mental illness) and psychosis (the most serious mental illness). Further services would then be developed from these core services. The roadmap and guidelines developed to implement are based on WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme, which gives countries a practical framework for scaling up mental health services
Opening the meeting, Vice-Minister of Health Dr Bounfeng PHOMMALAYSITH said:
“Agreeing our national guidelines on mental health is a crucial first step in scaling up mental health services in Lao PDR. But the really critical phase will be training our health workforce – both clinical and non-clinical – to implement them. Development partners can play an important role here in supporting our efforts.”
WHO’s Representative to Lao PDR, Dr Mark JACOBS commented:
“Mental illness can be just as serious – and just as deadly – as physical illness. And we know from international research that mental illnesses account for 14% of the total global burden of disease. Or put more simply, it is a major cause of premature death, disability and human misery. The health gains from providing treatment and support can be huge.”
Depression is a leading cause of disability around the world and can dramatically affect a person’s ability to function and live a rewarding and productive life. Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder and associated with considerable disability. Stigma, discrimination and violation of human rights of people with schizophrenia is common.
In its approach, the Ministry of Health has identified primary health care as an ideal platform to improve mental well-being and promotion at village level. Primary care providers can offer mental health support to the community and overcome stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses, promoting better understanding of these conditions.
National guidelines developed by the Ministry of Health with technical support from WHO were presented at, and endorsed by, the consultation meeting. These include guidance for:
- Clinical staff in primary care services (doctors, nurses and pharmacists)
- Non-clinical health staff such as village health volunteers and volunteers with Mass Organizations such as Lao Women’s Union and Lao Youth Union; and
- Emergency first responders
More information
Click here to read the speech of WHO Representative Dr Mark Jacobs
For more information on WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) see: