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Toolkit for the Integration of Mental Health into General Healthcare

General Guidance Cutting Across Sections of the Toolkit

This section includes key general guidance and resources which are foundational to the toolkit. Use this section as a reference as you explore specific steps and components in the toolkit.

  • Toolkit Homepage
  • Step 1. Assess & Plan for Mental Health Integration.
  • Step 2. Build Capacity of General Healthcare Workers.
  • Step 3. Strengthen Mental Health Services & Systems.
  • Cross cutting component. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning.
  • Cross cutting component. Advocate, Coordinate and Network.
  • Cross cutting component. Sustain Mental Health Services.
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  • Inter-Agency Standing Committee (2007) Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    For comprehensive guidance that can be used by all humanitarian actors operating in emergency settings on local, national, and international levels. Action sheets relevant to integrated mental health programming include:

    Action Sheet 6.1. Include specific psychological and social considerations in the provision of general health care
    Action Sheet 6.2 Provide access to care for people with severe mental disorders
    Action Sheet 6.4 Learn about and collaborate with local, indigenous and traditional healing systems where appropriate.
    • PDF icon ​Access Guidelines
    • PDF icon Accompanying Booklet for Humanitarian Health Actors
    • PDF icon Field Checklist
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Arabic
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Chinese
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in French
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Japanese
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Nepali
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Portuguese
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Russian
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Spanish
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Tajik
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Turkish
    • PDF icon Access the guidelines in Ukranian
  • WHO (2003 -2006) Mental Health Policy and Service Package

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    To assist government policymakers and planners in developing comprehensive policies and strategies to improve the mental health of populations, use existing resources, provide effective services, and assist with the inclusion of people with mental illnesses into communities. Interrelated modules can be used individually or as a package. 

    The package mainly targets government actors but can be used for training, educational materials, advocacy tools, or framework for technical consultancy. Modules include:
    • PDF icon Advocacy for Mental Health
    • PDF icon Child and Adolescent Mental Health Policies and Plans
    • PDF icon Mental Health Information Systems
    • PDF icon Human Resources and Training in Mental Health
    • PDF icon Improving Access and Use of Psychotropic Medicines
    • PDF icon Monitoring and Evaluation of Mental Health Policies and Plans
    • PDF icon Mental Health Financing
    • PDF icon Mental Health Policies and Programmes in the Workplace
    • PDF icon Planning and Budgeting to Deliver Services for Mental Health
    • PDF icon The Mental Health Context
    • PDF icon Quality Improvement for Mental Health
    • PDF icon Organization of Services for Mental Health
    • PDF icon Mental Health Policy and Plan Checklist
    • PDF icon Also see simplified info-sheet on the stepped process for mental health policy & plan development
  • WHO (2018) mhGAP Operations Manual

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    Use the mhGAP Operations Manual for practical, step-by-step guidance for integrating mental and general health services.

    • PDF icon Access here
  • WHO and WONCA (2008) Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care: A Global Perspective

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    For a detailed overview of the advantages of providing mental health services in primary care. The report also advises on how to implement and scale-up primary care for mental health, and describes how a range of health systems have successfully undertaken this transformation.

    • PDF icon Access here
  • WHO EMRO (Coming Soon) Mental Health PHC Integration Manual

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    Mental Health PHC Integration Manual [Coming Soon].

  • UNHCR (2013) Operational Guidance Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Programming for Refugee Operations

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    To support the development of MHPSS programming in various sectors, including health, community-based protection, education, shelter, nutrition, food security and livelihoods.

    • PDF icon Access in English
    • PDF icon Access in French
    • PDF icon View guidance brief
  • The Sphere Project (2018) Sphere handbook: Humanitarian charter and minimum standards in humanitarian response

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    Use this handbook as a foundational resource for universal minimum standards in core areas of humanitarian response, now including mental health for the first time.

    Access the Sphere Handbook online on the project website [See Section 2.5 for the Mental Health Standard under Essential Concepts in Health]

    • PDF icon Download the specific mental health standard draft here
  • WHO (2009) Improving Health Systems and Services for Mental Health

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    To learn about the essential ingredients for strengthening mental health systems within a context of overall health system development.

    • PDF icon Access here
  • International Medical Corps (2016) Mental health integration into general health care: A step-wise approach.

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    To access a summary of IMC’s experience in three humanitarian settings (Philippines, South Sudan, and CAR), where mental health services are offered through existing primary health centers (PHC).

    • PDF icon Access here
  • WHO (2013) Building Back Better: Sustainable Mental Health Care after Emergencies.

    Audience: Implementing agencies, Governments, Donors

    To access examples and lessons learned from countries that build stronger mental health systems after emergencies.

    • PDF icon Access here
    • PDF icon Access the Supplementary report
    • File Supplementary PowerPoint presentation
    • PDF icon Access the executive summary in English
    • PDF icon Access the executive summary in Arabic
    • PDF icon Access the executive summary in Chinese
    • PDF icon Access the executive summary in French
    • PDF icon Access the executive summary in Russian
    • PDF icon Access the executive summary in Spanish
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This Toolkit is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The content are the responsibility of International Medical Corps and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

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The Mental Health Innovation Network is jointly headquartered at:

The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

World Health Organization

20 Avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
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London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

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