We are delighted to share with you the October 2024 newsletter from the mental health, brain health, and substance use department of WHO
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October 2024
Message from the Director
As we enter the last quarter of 2024, I wanted to share an update on our recent work and activities to advance mental health, brain health, and substance use as global priorities. We have already seen key developments this year, reflecting our collective commitment to increase awareness, foster investment, and ensure more people can access support and treatment for mental health conditions.
The 77th World Health Assembly marked a major step forward with the adoption of a resolution on strengthening mental health and psychosocial support before, during and after armed conflicts, natural and human-caused disasters and health and other emergencies. The resolution underscores the need for cross-sectoral coordination, long-term investment in community-based services, and also highlights the mental health needs of humanitarian workers.
The international dialogue on sustainable financing, convened by WHO and the World Bank in June addressed the need for long-term solutions to better integrate NCDs and mental health in national health financing systems. The dialogue forms part of a broader forward-looking agenda to guide countries toward achieving SDG 3.4 by 2030 and prepare for the Fourth High-Level Meeting on NCDs in 2025.
We have continued our work to develop tools, guidance and strategies that support countries and partners to expand access to quality care. In June, WHO launched the global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders, providing an overview on alcohol consumption and treatment provision for substance use disorders. The report sets out eight strategic areas of action to achieve SDG target 3.5 and reduce the burden of substance use.
We also released a report on improving access to treatment for neurological disorders, and a toolkit providing practical guidance and resources for the implementation of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP).
We have just concluded WHO’s World Mental Health Forum in Geneva; a busy and successful few days of discussions between experts, policymakers, and mental health champions to further advance our shared goals.
We also marked World Mental Health Day which focused on the close links between mental health and work, in particular highlighting the responsibilities that countries and employers have to ensure workers’ mental health is protected from risks and supported at work.
I look forward to continuing our work together to scale up quality care for mental health, brain health and substance use.
With thanks for your support.
— Dévora Kestel, Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use
World Mental Health Day
On World Mental Health Day, WHO united with partners to highlight the vital connection between mental health and work.
With 60% of the global population in work, urgent action is needed to ensure work prevents risks to mental health and protects and supports mental health at work.
New WHO-UNICEF Service Guidance: Mental Health of Children and Young People
Mental health conditions often develop early in life. Yet very few of the world’s children and young people receive the mental health services they need.
This new WHO-UNICEF Service Guidance is designed to inform and inspire policy makers and others responsible for mental health services for children and young people, by introducing key issues to consider, important domains for standards of mental health care and through sharing a broad range of good practice approaches to developing or re-orienting services at community level.
World Suicide Prevention Day
Suicide is a major public health challenge. More than 700,000 people die due to suicide each year.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, WHO joined with partners to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicide, and emphasize the need to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health in policy making
WHO launches new international travel and health guidance on mental, neurological and substance use conditions
Travellers may face various health risks depending on their health profile, travel type, and destination.
The International Travel and Health collection by WHO provides guidance for travel health practitioners and travel health professionals on minimizing travel-related health risks.
Module 5 specifically addresses mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) conditions, highlighting how travel stress, separation from support systems, and other factors can exacerbate or trigger conditions like epilepsy, migraines, and dementia.
WHO calls for better access to medicines to reduce vast treatment gap for neurological disorders
Over 80% of neurological deaths and health loss occur in low- and middle-income countries.
A new WHO report sets out the barriers that prevent access to essential and cost-effective medicines that enhance the quality of life of individuals with neurological disorders. These barriers are wide-ranging from poor health financing to inadequate healthcare infrastructure among others.
The report also presents a framework for action including addressing policy, regulatory, health infrastructure, and education challenges, and involving individuals with lived experience.
New 'Science in 5' explainer on dementia
Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily activities. In a recent episode of Science in 5 Dr. Katrin Seeher unpacks the key elements of dementia, discussing the common symptoms of dementia, the importance of early diganosis, and how to reduce the risk of dementia.
WHO- launches new toolkit to improve care for neurological disorders
Neurological conditions are the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
The new implementation toolkit to the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP), outlines specific actions and resources for countries to improve services for people with neurological disorders in preparation for meeting IGAP’s targets for 2031.
Launch of global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders
WHO’s latest Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders provides a comprehensive overview of alcohol consumption, alcohol related harm and policy responses, as well as treatment capacity for alcohol and drug use disorders.
This report analyses global alcohol consumption trends, considering gender, age, equity, and regional differences. Despite the availability of effective treatment options for substance use disorders, treatment coverage is still remarkably low. The report outlines concrete actions to reduce the health and social impact of substance use toward the achievement of SDG 3.5.
The Global Action Plan on Alcohol 2022-2030 previously endorsed by member states is now available in all UN languages, which can be accessed here.
WHO and World Bank convene dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health
The International Financing Dialogue for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, organized by WHO and the World Bank Group, focused on sustainable funding, strategic purchasing, and enhanced financial protection. The dialogue forms part of the preparatory process for the forthcoming
Countries agree to integrate mental health and psychosocial support in emergency response
Nearly all people affected by emergencies will experience psychological distress, with 1 in 5 likely to experience a mental health condition.
At the 77th World Health Assembly, WHA approved a resolution to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support across all stages of emergencies, including conflicts, natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The new resolution further urges Member States to implement the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030.
Subscribe to WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health Newsletter
WHOs Special Initiative for Mental Health aims to ensure universal health coverage for people living with mental health conditions, by working to increase access to quality and affordable mental health services for 100 million more people. Read the latest newsletter and subscribe here to receive updates on the activities of the Special Initiative for Mental Health.
