This 2021 comprehensive guidance document includes a detailed description of person-centered and human rights-based approaches in mental health, and examples of good practices worldwide. It provides stakeholders with information and support to develop or transform mental health systems and services to align with international human rights standards. The guidance covers a set of seven technical packages that describe mental health services and guidance for setting up new services:
Key Messages
- People with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities face poor quality of care and violations of their human rights, which calls for a change in mental health systems and service delivery.
- Worldwide, examples of good practice, community-based mental health services that are person-centered, recovery-oriented, and adhere to human rights standards exist. In many cases, these show lower costs of service provision than comparable mainstream services.
- Changes in the social sector are required to support access to education, employment, housing, and social benefits for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities.