About us

Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use

Our work involves mental health promotion and the prevention of mental, neurological and substance use disorders. We support the expansion of access to affordable, quality care for everyone who needs it.

Mental Health Unit

Leads work in a number of areas: suicide, prevention, mental health services across the life course; mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies; care of mental disorders in non-specialized and specialized health care; mental health education; psychological interventions, including IT-supported care; mental health at work and epidemiology.

Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours Unit

Promotes evidence-based policies, strategies and interventions that reduce the burden associated with alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours. Provides normative guidance and technical assistance on the prevention and treatment of disorders due to substance use and addictive behaviors, and collates and disseminates relevant global data to inform policy and programme development.  

Brain Health Unit

Promotes optimal brain development and function, neurological health and well-being for all people around the world. Also focuses on the prevention, treatment and management of neurological disorders (such as dementia and epilepsy) within primary health care, and using a comprehensive person-centered, life course approach. Assists countries in: developing holistic national responses; strengthening health information for brain health conditions across sectors, levels of care and service providers; and coordinating research efforts for brain health.

Policy, Law and Human Rights Unit

Conducts cross-cutting work related to policy, human rights and legislation relating to mental health, brain health and substance use. Key elements of the work, promoted through our QualityRights Initiative, are to combat stigma and discrimination, build capacity to understand and promote human rights and recovery approaches, and to support countries to develop services, policies and laws in line with international human rights standards.  

World Health Organization

Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use
20, Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland