WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health
The Philippines was selected to be part of the WHO’s Director General’s Special Initiative for Mental Health in 2021 to (i) create sustainable mental health governance and accountability structures; (ii) increase access to quality services; and (iii) strengthen mental health research and information systems.
Strengthening Mental Health Systems
Through activities under the Special Initiative for Mental Health, the Philippines is strengthening mental health systems across the country. This includes:
Supporting governing bodies to implement the Mental Health Act and Philippine Council for Mental Health Strategic Plan.
Increasing access to integrated, quality mental health care through mhGAP training to both health and non-health professionals (task-sharing).
Strengthening patient navigation and referral pathways.
Training and piloting of brief psychological interventions to accompany mhGAP treatment protocols.
Building the capacity of providers in secondary care facilities (including QualityRights eTraining).
Developing a mental health information system.
Refining and improving monitoring and evaluation for both the Special Initiative for Mental Health and the Philippine Council for Mental Health Strategic Plan.
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News
The Philippines is the first country in the Western Pacific to join the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health, which seeks to make mental health services available in community settings, addressing service and treatment gaps.
The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), today launched the 2024-2028 Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH) Strategic Framework to guide the development and implementation of mental health policies.
Based on the findings of the Investment Case Report on Mental Health in the Philippines, around 96% of this cost comes from loss in productivity, with the remaining 4% coming from healthcare costs.
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