Mental Health Action Plan 213-2020 Objective 2:To provide comprehensive,integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings 48 In the context of improving access to care and service quality,WHO recommends the development of comprehensive community-based mental health and social care services:the integration of mental health care and treatment into general hospitals and primary care:continuity of care between different providers and levels of the health system;effective collabora- tion between formal and informal care providers;and the promotion of self-care,for instance,through the use of electronic and mobile health technologies. 49Developing mental health services of good quality requires the use of evidence-based protocols and practices,including early intervention,incorporation of human rights principles,respect for individual autonomy and the protection of people's dignity.Furthermore,health workers must not limit intervention to improving mental health but also attend to the physical health care needs of children,adolescents and adults with mental disorders,and vice versa,because of the high rates of co morbid physical and mental health problems and associated risk factors,for example,high rates of tobacco consumption,that go unaddressed. 50 Community-based service delivery for mental health needs to encompass a recovery-based approach that puts the empha- sis on supporting individuals with mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities to achieve their own aspirations and goals. The core service requirements include:listening and responding to individuals'understanding of their condition and what helps them to recover:working with people as equal partners in their care:offering choice of treatment and therapies,and in terms of who provides care:and the use of peer workers and supports,who provide each other with encouragement and a sense of belonging,in addition to their expertise.In addition,a multisectoral approach is required whereby services support individuals. at different stages of the life course and,as appropriate,facilitate their access to human rights such as employment (including return-to-work programmes),housing and educational opportunities,and participation in community activities,programmes and meaningful activities. 51 More active involvement and support of service users in the reorganization,delivery and evaluation and monitoring of services is required so that care and treatment become more responsive to their needs.Greater collaboration with"informal" mental health care providers,including families,as well as religious leaders,faith healers,traditional healers,school teachers, police officers and local nongovernmental organizations,is also needed 52 Another essential requirement is for services to be responsive to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups in society.including socioeconomically disadvantaged famities.people living with HIV/AIDS.women and children living with domestic violence,survivors of violence.lesbian,gay,bisexual and transgendered people,indigenous peoples,immigrants. asylum seekers,persons deprived of liberty,and minority groups among others within the national context. 53 When planning for humanitarian emergency response and recovery,it is crucial to ensure that mental health services and community psychosocial supports are widely available. 54 Exposure to adverse life events or extreme stressors,such as natural disasters,isolated,repeated or continuing conflict and civil unrest or ongoing family and domestic violence,may have serious health and mental health consequences that require careful examination,particularly with regard to issues of diagnostic characterization (especially avoiding over-diagnosis and over-medicalization]and approaches to support,care and rehabilitation. 55 Having the right number and equitable distribution of competent,sensitive and appropriately skilled health professionals14 Mental Health Action PLan )(11 ~ 7J' Objective 2, To provide comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings 48 In the context of improving access to care and service quality, WHO recommends the development of comprehensive community-based mental heaLth and sociaL care services: the integration of mental health care and treatment into general hospitals and primary care: continuity of care between different providers and levels of the health system: effective collabora￾tion between formaL and informal care providers: and the promotion of self-care, for instance, through the use of electronic and mobile health technologies. 49 Developing mental health services of good quality requires the use of evidence-based protocols and practices, including early intervention, incorporation of human rights principtes, respect for individuaL autonomy and the protection of people's dignity. Furthermore, health workers must not limit intervention to improving mental health but aLso attend to the physical heaLth care needs of chiLdren, adoLescents and adults with mentaL disorders, and vice versa, because of the high rates of co morbid physical and mental health problems and associated risk factors, for example, high rates of tobacco consumption, that go unaddressed. 50 Community-based service delivery for mentaL health needs to encompass a recovery-based approach that puts the empha￾sis on supporting individuals with mentaL disorders and psychosocial disabilities to achieve their own aspirations and goals. The core service requirements include: listening and responding to individuals' understanding of their condition and what helps them to recover; working with people as equal partners in their care; offering choice of treatment and therapies, and in terms of who provides care; and the use of peer workers and supports, who provide each other with encouragement and a sense of beLonging, in addition to their expertise. In addition, a multisectoral approach is required whereby services support individuals, at different stages of the life course and, as appropriate, facilitate their access to human rights such as employment (including return-to-work programmes], housing and educational opportunities, and participation in community activities, programmes and meaningful activities. 51 More active involvement and support of service users in the reorganization, delivery and evaLuation and monitoring of services is required so that care and treatment become more responsive to their needs. Greater collaboration with "informal" mental health care providers, including families, as welt as religious leaders, faith heaters, traditional healers, schooL teachers, police officers and local nongovernmental organizations, is also needed. 52 Another essential requirement is for services to be responsive to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups in society, including socioeconomically disadvantaged families, peopLe living with HIV/AIDS, women and chiLdren living with domestic violence, survivors of violence, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, indigenous peoples, immigrants, asylum seekers, persons deprived of liberty, and minority groups among others within the national context. 53 When pLanning for humanitarian emergency response and recovery, it is crucial to ensure that mentaL health services and community psychosocial supports are widely available. 54 Exposure to adverse life events or extreme stressors, such as natural disasters, isolated, repeated or continuing conflict and civil unrest or ongoing family and domestic violence, may have serious health and mental health consequences that require careful examination, particularly with regard to issues of diagnostic characterization (especially avoiding over-diagnosis and over-medicalizationl and approaches to support, care and rehabilitation . 55 Having the right number and equitabLe distribution of competent, sensitive and appropriately skilled health professionals