Mental Health Action Plan 2013 2020 SETTING THE SCENE 01 In May 2012,the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA65.4 on the global burden of mental disorders and the need for a comprehensive,coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level.It requested the Director-General,inter alia,to develop a comprehensive mental health action plan,in consultation with Member States,cover- ing services,policies,legislation,plans,strategies and programmes. 02 This comprehensive action plan has been elaborated through consultations with Member States,civil society and interna- tional partners.It takes a comprehensive and multisectoral approach,through coordinated services from the health and social sectors,with an emphasis on promotion,prevention,treatment,rehabilitation,care and recovery.It also sets out clear actions for Member States,the Secretariat and international,regional and national level partners,and proposes key indicators and targets that can be used to evaluate levels of implementation.progress and impact.The action plan has,at its core,the globally accepted principle that there is"no health without mental health" 03 The action plan has close conceptual and strategic links to other global action plans and strategies endorsed by the Health Assembly,including the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol,the global plan of action for workers'health. 2008-2017,the action plan for the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases,2008-2013,and the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (2013-2020).It also draws on WHO's regional action plans and strategies for mental health and substance abuse that have been adopted or are being developed.The action plan has been designed to create synergy with other relevant programmes of organizations in the United Nations system,United Nations interagency groups and intergovernmental organizations. 04 The action plan builds upon,but does not duplicate,the work of WHO's mental health gap action programme (mhGAP).The focus of the latter was to expand services for mental health in low resource settings.The action plan is global in its scope and is designed to provide quidance for national action plans.It addresses,for all resource settings,the response of social and other relevant sectors,as well as promotion and prevention strategies. 05 In this action plan,the term"mental disorders"is used to denote a range of mental and behavioural disorders that fall within the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems,Tenth revision (ICD-10).These include disorders that cause a high burden of disease such as depression,bipolar affective disorder,schizophrenia,anxiety disorders, dementia,substance use disorders,intellectual disabilities,and developmental and behavioural disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence,including autism.For dementia and substance use disorders,additional prevention strategies may also be required (as described,for example,in a WHO report on dementia issued in early 20122 and in the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol).Furthermore,the plan covers suicide prevention and many of the actions are also relevant to conditions such as epilepsy.The term "vulnerable groups"is used in the action plan to refer to individuals or groups of individuals who are made vulnerable by the situations and environments that they are exposed to(as opposed to any inherent weakness or lack of capacity).The term"vulnerable groups"should be applied within countries as appropriate to the national situation. 06 The action plan also covers mental health,which is conceptualized as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities,can cope with the normal stresses of life,can work productively and fruitfully,and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.With respect to children,an emphasis is placed on the developmental aspects.for instance,having a positive sense of identity,the ability to manage thoughts,emotions,as well as to build social relationships. and the aptitude to learn and to acquire an education,ultimately enabling their full active participation in society. Annex ll provides a glossary of main terms links to other global oction plans strategies and programmes intemational and regional humon nights treaties and selected WHO technical materials and resources on mental heaith Alzheimer's Disease International Dementia a public health probtem.Genevo.World Health Organization,201206 Mental Health Action Plan iiI1-' 2 of.-' SE IIING THE SCENE 01 In May 2012, the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA65.4 on the global burden of menial disorders and the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response from health and social sectors at the country level. II requested the Director-General, inter alia, to develop a comprehensive mental health action plan, in consultation with Member States, cover￾ing services, policies. legislation. plans, strategies and programmes. 02 This comprehensive action plan has been elaborated through consultations with Member States, civil society and interna￾tional partners. It lakes a comprehensive and multisectoral approach, through coordinated services from the health and social sectors, with an emphasis on promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, care and recovery. It also sets out clear actions for Member States, the Secretariat and international, regional and national level partners, and proposes key indicators and targets that can be used to evaluate levels of implementation, progress and impact. The action plan has, at its core, the globally accepted principle that there is "no health without mental health·.1 03 The action plan has close conceptual and strategic links to other global action plans and strategies endorsed by the Health Assembly, including the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. the global plan of action for workers' health, 2008-2017, the action plan for the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, 2008-2013, and the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (2013-2020]. It also draws on WHO's regional action plans and strategies for mental health and substance abuse that have been adopted or are being developed. The action plan has been designed to create synergy with other relevant programmes of organizations in the United Nations system, United Nations interagency groups and intergovernmental organizations. 04 The action plan builds upon, but does not duplicate, the work of WHO's mental health gap action programme [mhGAPj. The focus of the latter was to expand services for mental health in low resource settings. The action plan is global in its scope and is designed to provide guidance for national action plans. It addresses, for all resource settings, the response of social and other relevant sectors, as well as promotion and prevention strategies. OS ln this action plan, the term "mental disorders· is used to denote a range of mental and behavioural disorders that fall within the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth revision lICD-10]. These include disorders that cause a high burden of disease such as depression, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, dementia, substance use disorders, intellectual disabilities, and developmental and behavioural disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence, including autism. For dementia and substance use disorders, additional prevention strategies may also be required [as described, for example, in a WHO report on dementia issued in early 20122 and in the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol). Furthermore, the plan covers suicide prevention and many of the actions are also relevant to conditions such as epilepsy. The term "vulnerable groups· is used in the action plan to refer to individuals or groups of individuals who are made vulnerable by the situations and environments that they are exposed to (as opposed to any inherent weakness or lack of capacity]. The term "vulnerable groups" should be applied within countries as appropriate to the national situation. 06 The action plan also covers mental health, which is conceptualized as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. With respect to children, an emphasis is placed on the developmental aspects, for instance, having a positive sense of identity, the ability to manage thoughts, emotions, as well as to build social relationships, and the aptitude to learn and to acquire an education, ultimately enabling their full active participation in society. , Annex 1/ proVideS a glossary of mom terms. Imks to other glOOoI oc/ion pions. strategies and programmes, mtemo/ionol and reglOnol human fights treaties. and selected WHO techmcol molenals and resources on mental health 1 Alzheimer's Dlseose IntemotlOnal DementlO a publIC health problem Genevo. World Health OrgonlZaliOn. 2012