Advancing Mental Health Worldwide: Five Core Elements for Effective Strategies

More than one billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition (MHC). Despite the significant downstream economic, societal, and health challenges associated with MHCs, inconsistent funding, patchwork policies, and limited access to care impede progress toward improving mental health treatment options and outcomes. Government funding for mental health pales in comparison with funding for other highly prevalent health conditions, with substantial disparities among low-, middle-, and high-income countries. In addition, gaps or delays between policy design and implementation often slow or limit progress. 

There is a tremendous opportunity to advance mental health outcomes, reduce the economic and societal burdens of disease, and improve quality of life for those living with MHCs through coordinated, comprehensive policy approaches. 

This report outlines five elements that are core to an effective mental health strategy: prevention, education, and early intervention; equitable access to care; integrated care with social supports; enhanced funding; and data and measurement. To move the needle on mental health, the recommendations emphasize the need for collaboration among people with lived experience, the private sector, community partners, and policymakers, as well as the use of metrics to hold stakeholders accountable.