Equitable Mental Health Care in South-East Asia: WHO's Vision for a Healthier Future

The WHO’s 2024 report highlights significant strides in mental health care across South-East Asia, emphasizing community-based approaches, digital innovations, and deinstitutionalization, while addressing challenges like stigma, funding gaps, and workforce shortages. It calls for continued investment and collaboration to ensure equitable, people-centered mental health services for all.

The WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, in collaboration with Member States, has made significant progress in addressing mental health challenges, as highlighted in its 2024 Annual Report. With an estimated 260 million people in the region,13.2% of its population is affected by mental health conditions, and the burden remains immense. Depression continues to be a leading cause of disability, and suicide accounts for a significant number of premature deaths. Under the leadership of Regional Director Ms. Saima Wazed, the WHO's mental health and substance abuse unit has spearheaded efforts to reimagine care frameworks. Central to these efforts is the Paro Declaration, adopted in 2022, which champions universal, people-centered mental health care. Through collaborations with governments, local organizations, and other stakeholders, the region has prioritized community-based care, integrated mental health into broader health frameworks, and harnessed technology to bridge gaps in access and service delivery.

Country-Specific Interventions: Tailored Solutions for Diverse Needs

WHO-supported initiatives reflect tailored approaches to diverse challenges across the region. In Nepal, the Special Initiative for Mental Health has improved access to care for 1.2 million people, training over 4,000 general health providers to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare systems. Bangladesh has expanded community-based networks by establishing 19 mental health service centers that provide counseling, psychoeducation, and comprehensive support for individuals with mental, neurological, and substance use conditions. Sri Lanka has embraced deinstitutionalization, transitioning patients from long-stay facilities to community-based systems. Workshops in the country have focused on creating district-level plans to integrate mental health services, emphasizing autonomy and community support. In Bhutan, a national policy integrates mental health into primary healthcare, with ongoing training for health workers to address common conditions such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. These efforts underscore the importance of strengthening local systems to address unique national needs.

Technology and Innovation in Mental Health Care

The report emphasizes the transformative role of technology in improving access to mental health care. Thailand’s Step-by-Step digital program has emerged as a model for addressing depression through guided self-help tools. This web-based platform employs behavioral activation techniques, gratitude exercises, and relaxation practices supported by trained helpers, offering an affordable and scalable solution to tackle stigma and access barriers. In Myanmar, the inclusion of mental health modules in the national STEP Survey highlights the interplay between noncommunicable disease risk factors and mental health conditions. The LIVE LIFE suicide prevention initiative in Thailand demonstrates the value of combining data-driven analysis, literacy surveys, and community engagement to enhance surveillance and prevention efforts. These programs highlight the critical role of digital innovations in bridging gaps, reducing stigma, and ensuring equitable access to mental health resources across the region.

Regional Collaboration and Advocacy

The WHO has fostered regional collaboration through impactful meetings, conferences, and summits. The 23rd Annual International Mental Health Conference in Bangkok provided a platform to discuss innovations in mental health service delivery. At the same time, the Mental Health Summit in Kathmandu amplified the voices of individuals with lived experiences. The Kathmandu Charter, developed during the summit, outlines the rights to dignity, autonomy, and equal opportunities for those with mental health conditions. These regional efforts also emphasize the importance of deinstitutionalization, as demonstrated in workshops that focus on transitioning from long-stay facilities to community-based networks. By sharing knowledge and advocating for policy changes, these initiatives aim to reduce stigma, integrate mental health services into primary care, and prioritize the voices of marginalized populations.

Challenges, Investments, and the Path Forward

Despite progress, challenges remain. Stigma and discrimination continue to impede access to care, while financial constraints and workforce shortages exacerbate the treatment gap. Many countries in the region allocate less than USD 1 per capita to mental health services, underscoring the need for greater investment. The WHO report highlights the economic benefits of prioritizing mental health, noting that every dollar invested yields a fourfold return in improved health and productivity. Addressing these barriers requires capacity-building, simplified screening tools, and robust task-shifting strategies to ensure services reach underserved communities. Climate change’s impact on mental health has also emerged as a pressing issue. Workshops in Indonesia have emphasized integrating mental health considerations into national climate adaptation plans, with a focus on emergency preparedness and disaster risk management.

The WHO’s global collaborations further enhance regional initiatives. Partnerships on epilepsy and neurological disorders highlight the need for integrated care models. At the same time, programs like the LEGO Foundation-supported parenting interventions in Thailand demonstrate the potential of community-focused projects. In the Maldives, efforts to reintegrate individuals with mental health conditions into their communities involve upgrading care standards and creating individualized rehabilitation plans. Such initiatives reflect a holistic approach to mental health that combines local action with global frameworks.

The report paints an optimistic vision for the future, emphasizing that mental health care must be accessible, equitable, and stigma-free. Continued investment in people-centered policies, alignment with international standards, and strengthening of community-based care networks are essential to achieving this goal. With concerted efforts from governments, organizations, and communities, the WHO envisions a healthier, more resilient South-East Asia where mental health is prioritized as a fundamental component of public health.