Expanding Community-Based Mental Health Services in WHO South-East Asia Region: A Comprehensive Action Plan for 2023-2030

In 2022, the Member States of WHO South-East Asia Region made a commitment to promote and facilitate access to community-based mental health services. This was done through the adoption of the Paro Declaration on universal access to people-centred mental health care and services. Following this declaration, the Mental health action plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region 2023–2030 was introduced. This action plan has four main objectives, with Objective 2 focusing on providing comprehensive, integrated, and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings.

The action plan provides an extensive menu of options to expand and strengthen community-based mental health services in WHO South-East Asia Region Member States. Under Objective 2, there are various strategies that can be implemented to achieve this goal. These include training and education programs for healthcare professionals to provide mental health services in community settings, as well as the development of telehealth platforms to provide remote access to mental health resources.

In addition to these strategies, the action plan also includes indicators to track the progress of the expansion of community-based mental health services. These indicators include the number of community-based mental health centres that provide care and support options for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities in the community, such as day care centres and rehabilitation centres. Other indicators include the proportion of general hospitals with mental health units and the number of supported living facilities, including both long and short-stay options.

Overall, the Mental health action plan for WHO South-East Asia Region is a comprehensive strategy that aims to improve access to mental health services in community settings. By implementing various strategies and tracking progress through indicators, Member States can work towards creating a more inclusive and accessible healthcare system for all individuals in their communities.