Mental health
Mental health is critically important for everyone, everywhere, and goes beyond the mere absence of a mental health condition. It is integral to well-being, enabling people to realize their full potential, show resilience amidst adversity, be productive across the various settings of daily life, form meaningful relationships and contribute to their communities. Physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual and other interrelated factors contribute to mental health, and there are inseparable links between mental and physical health. Promoting and protecting mental health is also critical to a well-functioning society. It fosters social capital and solidarity, which are essential during times of crisis.
The Western Pacific Region faces a looming mental health crisis, driven by social pressures, vulnerabilities and unrest, amplified by the wide ranging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities everywhere. Over 215 million people are living with a mental health condition in the Region. Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death among young people, and for every death, there are many more suicide attempts. At the same time, demographic shifts in some countries is increasing the proportion of older people contributing to the growing prevalence of dementia and other mental health conditions related to ageing.
Rapid and unplanned urbanization give rise to built environments that are not conducive to health and well-being. Economic pressures, toxic online interactions and increased drug use can also cause stress and other direct threats to mental health. Substance use compounds the risk of developing a mental health condition and can lead to risky behavior especially among young people. Chronic exposure to adversity due to these and other risk factors increase the likelihood of developing a mental health condition across the life-course.
The Region is also home to some of the most climate-vulnerable countries and areas in the world. Extreme weather events and other environmental hazards can lead to large-scale health emergencies and complex humanitarian crises, resulting in widespread mental distress and suffering. Communities residing in small islands and coastal areas are facing an uncertain future due to rising sea levels, leading many to feel anxious and afraid for their way of life.
The new Regional Framework for the Future of Mental Health in the Western Pacific aims to promote the highest level of mental health for all people in the Region. It calls on Member States, partners and stakeholders to:
Refocus the mental health agenda to include well-being and reaching the unreached through leadership that champions mental health for all.
Transform mental health support and care into a community-based ecosystem of health and social services and innovations, enabled by a well-trained mental health workforce, delivering the full range of interventions, and underpinned by a responsive information system.
Embed mental health into the settings and journeys of daily life by placing the well-being of communities at the centre and engaging partners within and beyond the health sector to help individuals, families and societies thrive and flourish.
Co-developed with Member States and in consultation with key stakeholders, the framework complements other global goods and initiatives and extends the vision of For the Future to the mental health agenda. It is envisioned to support Member States in designing national strategies, plans and policies on mental health, to strengthen political advocacy for greater resources and commitment, and to encourage coordination and collaboration among partners as the Region builds back better and fairer, creating mental health systems that are more resilient to future health emergencies.
