Community-Based Mental Health Services in South-East Asia: Expanding Access through the Paro Declaration and Mental Health Action Plan

In 2022, Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region committed to promoting and facilitating access to community-based mental health services. The Paro Declaration on Universal Access to People-Centered Mental Health Care and Services was adopted, which led to the presentation of the Mental Health Action Plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region 2023–2030. The action plan has four main objectives, with Objective 2 focusing on providing comprehensive, integrated, and responsive mental health and social care services in a community setting.

Under Goal 2, there are several options for expanding and strengthening community-based mental health services in WHO member countries in the South-East Asia region. The action plan includes indicators to monitor progress in expanding community mental health services. Some of these indicators include the number of community mental health centers that provide care and support options for people with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities in the community, such as day centers and rehabilitation centers. Other indicators include the proportion of general hospitals with mental health units and the number of assisted living facilities, including long- and short-stay options.

The adoption of the Paro Declaration on Universal Access to People-Centered Mental Health Care and Services marks an important step towards improving access to mental health services in the South-East Asia region. The Mental Health Action Plan for 2023–2030 will help guide efforts towards achieving this goal by providing a roadmap for expanding and strengthening community-based mental health services.