Mental Health and Development: Targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group
Abstract
This report presents compelling evidence that people with mental health conditions meet major criteria for vulnerability. The report also describes how vulnerability can lead to poor mental health, and how mental health conditions are widespread yet largely unaddressed among groups identified as vulnerable. It argues that mental health should be included in sectoral and broader development strategies and plans, and that development stakeholders have important roles to play in ensuring that people with mental health conditions are recognized as a vulnerable group and are not excluded from development opportunities. The recommended actions in this report provide a starting point to achieve these aims.
The key messages of the report are:
- People with mental health conditions meet criteria for vulnerability.
- Because they are vulnerable, people with mental health conditions merit targeting by development strategies and plans.
- Different development stakeholders have important roles to play in designing and implementing policies and programmes for reaching people with mental health conditions, and in mainstreaming mental health interventions into sectoral and broader national development strategies and plans.
- Development programmes and their associated policies should protect the human rights of people with mental health conditions and build their capacity to participate in public affairs.
- The recommended actions in this report provide a starting point to achieve these aims.
Citation
WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, ISBN 978 92 4 156394 9, 74 pp.
Links