WHO EMRO | Regional Coalition for Mental Health
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean announced the launch of the Regional Coalition for Mental Health Promotion and Substance Use Prevention in Cairo, Egypt. This initiative aims to unify efforts among various stakeholders to address mental health and substance use challenges in the region. By fostering collaboration, the Coalition seeks to shift the focus from stigmatization to empowerment and from isolation to integration, ultimately enhancing the effectiveness of mental health strategies across the Eastern Mediterranean.
Coalition’s Objectives and Importance
The newly formed Coalition serves as a vital platform for aligning strategies and maximizing the collective impact of mental health initiatives. It brings together civil society actors who work directly with individuals affected by mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Many of these organizations are led by people with lived experience, emphasizing the importance of their involvement as equal partners in the decision-making process. The Coalition aims to transform the current fragmented approach to mental health and substance use into a more integrated and coordinated system that prioritizes community-based care and support.
Mental health conditions and substance use disorders significantly affect individuals, families, and communities throughout the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Statistics reveal that one in six people in the region lives with a mental health condition, while 6.7% of adults are impacted by substance use—figures that exceed the global average. Alarmingly, many individuals do not receive the necessary treatment, with some countries experiencing treatment gaps as high as 90%. Stigma surrounding mental health contributes to this issue, often leading to silence and marginalization.
Key Initiatives and Future Plans
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, highlighted the significance of the Coalition’s launch as a milestone in advancing commitments made under the Regional Flagship Initiative on Accelerating Public Health Action on Substance Use. This initiative, endorsed by member states, calls for a decisive shift toward integrated systems and community-based care. The Coalition’s work will align with the Regional Action Plan for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies (2024–2030), which emphasizes the engagement of individuals with lived experience.
Moving forward, WHO and its partners will collaborate to develop a comprehensive work plan for the Coalition’s activities. This plan will support WHO’s broader agenda on mental health and substance use, ensuring that the needs of affected individuals are prioritized in policy-making and service delivery.
Engagement and Collaboration
The Coalition operates on an interactive platform in partnership with the Global Mental Health Action Network, led by United for Global Mental Health. Currently, it comprises over 50 member organizations and experts dedicated to various activities, including advocacy, capacity-building, and mental health promotion. The Coalition aims to empower individuals with lived experience to contribute to WHO’s efforts in addressing mental health and substance use issues.
One of the Coalition’s primary goals is to advocate for increased political commitment and visibility regarding mental health. It seeks to develop and implement programs that combat stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders. Additionally, the Coalition aims to integrate mental health and substance use services into the universal health coverage framework, ensuring that these critical areas are addressed in primary health care and emergency preparedness strategies.
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