From Paro to Community-Based: WHO South-East Asia Region Takes a Leap Towards Universal Mental Health Care Services with New Action Plan

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. As a result, the Mental health action plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region 2023–2030 was introduced.

The 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. Under Objective 2, there is an extensive menu of options provided to expand and strengthen community-based mental health services in WHO South-East Asia Region Member States. 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.