Innovation details
The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has identified mental health for accelerated implementation of the 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13), covering 2019-2025[1]. Mental health is high on the global health agenda following COVID-19, increased conflicts and climate emergencies, and growing economic uncertainties. The time to act is now.
The foundation of the Special Initiative for Mental Health is to work in partnership with Member States, local, and international partners, as well as organisations of people with lived experience. It aligns fully with global mental health mandates[2] and recommendations[3], contributes to WHOs GPW13[4] triple billion targets and universal health coverage agenda, including to leave no one behind. In doing so, WHOs Special Initiative for Mental Health contributes, directly and indirectly, to multiple Sustainable Development Goals[5].
Annual updates about country specific achievements are posted to the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health webpage[6].
[1]In resolution EB150.R4, WHO’s Executive Board recommended that the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly in May 2022 extend the endpoint of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work by two years from 2023 to 2025.
[2] E.g., the updated Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030
[4] WHO’s GPW13 targets 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 35, 36, 39, and 41, covering a wide range of health priorities
[5] Directly, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, and indirectly, SDGs 1 (No poverty), 4 (Quality education), 5 (Gender equity), 8 (Decent work and economic growth), 10 (Reduced inequalities), 13 (Climate action), 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the goals).
[6] https://www.who.int/initiatives/who-special-initiative-for-mental-health