Boosting Community-Based Mental Health Care in WHO South-East Asia Region through Paro Declaration and Mental Health Action Plan

The Member States of WHO South-East Asia Region made a commitment to promote and facilitate access to community-based mental health services in 2022 by adopting the Paro Declaration on universal access to people-centered mental health care and services. This declaration was followed by the Mental Health Action Plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region 2023–2030, which has four main objectives.

One of these objectives is to provide comprehensive, integrated, and responsive mental health and social care services in community-based settings. The plan outlines several options for expanding and strengthening community-based mental health services in WHO South-East Asia Region Member States. It also includes indicators for tracking progress, such as the number of community-based mental health centers providing care and support options, the proportion of general hospitals with mental health units, and the number of supported living facilities for both long and short-term stays.

The goal of these initiatives is to improve access to mental health services and support for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities in the community. By focusing on community-based settings, the WHO South-East Asia Region aims to make mental health care more accessible and responsive to the needs of individuals.