Innovation details
Led by the Ministry of Health, reform of the mental health system started in 2008. In 2011, a national mental health policy plan was launched to provide comprehensive bio-psychosocial services in an environment that respects people’s dignity and protects their human rights. The following services were developed: 1-3
- A new Mental Health Unit within the Ministry of Health (MoH) to lead the governance of mental health
- Community mental health centres in existing MoH facilities to provide comprehensive bio-psychosocial services in an environment that respects people’s dignity and protects their human rights
- Mental health care for children and adolescents through the collaboration among MoH, University of Jordan and WHO
- A new short-stay inpatient unit in the psychiatric hospital
- Inpatient units within general university hospitals
- Integration of mental health in primary health care
Other components of the reform included:
- A multi-sectoral policy development process was undertaken, resulting in Jordan’s first ever national mental health policy and plan
- Mental health training for general medical and non medical staff
- Empowerment of service users by providing training in human rights and establishing the national association of service users (“Our Step”)
- Co-chairing the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Coordination Group
- Mapping through the 4Ws (Who is Where, When doing What) – Tool developed by WHO for mapping mental health resources available and activities conducted in an emergency setting