Our vision at Psyomics is to build a world where everybody can confidently and easily access the best support for their mental health needs. So, we’ve taken a look at the latest WHO Mental Health report and their plan for ‘transforming mental health for all’.
‘Transforming mental health’ sounds like a big ask. That’s because it is. The situation has only worsened following the COVID pandemic, with 44% of countries still experiencing disruptions to mental health services 2 years on. Now, one in eight people are living with a mental disorder worldwide, while on average only 2% of health funds are directed towards mental health care.
Following the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030, the WHO set targets to tackle the growing pressures, but their analysis of most recent data shows that more must be done. We’re pleased to see the WHO asking for more investment across all sectors and discussing ‘harnessing digital technologies for mental health.’
Like us, the WHO is calling for commitment to mental health , recommending that systems shift care away from psychiatric hospitals and offer the ‘full spectrum of mental health needs’ in the community. In a struggling system, where waiting lists and referral numbers are growing[1], improving efficiency and ensuring people are directed to the correct treatment in a timely way is key.
Backed by our research with Cambridge University, we know that technology and data can improve identification of mental health conditions and reduce delays in starting treatment. Early intervention and prevention are key priorities for the WHO, and keeping people in the community able to access the treatment they need will help support better outcomes. Finding ways for health systems to streamline referrals will be crucial for the task to build a stronger community network.
It’s so important that people can access the right treatment, at the right time. Supported decision-making – where service users and health care providers work together to choose the most appropriate care pathway for each individual, is a key part of the WHO’s bid to improve therapeutic relationships and efficacy of interventions. It highlights the shift towards people wanting to understand more about their own mental health.
It’s important that primary care staff understand the individual’s experience too. By using Censeo and generating a clinical report, mental health practitioners can gain valuable insights into service users’ mental health needs. This could feed into the WHO’s call for primary care staff to be better equipped to identify mental health conditions and to refer as needed. Creating this shared understanding is crucial in forming these collaborative partnerships and increasing mutual confidence when discussing onward treatment plans.
There’s lots of interesting reading in the report and more to unpick when it comes to tackling mental health services globally. Read the full WHO report here.
[1] The pandemic has driven unprecedented surge in demand for mental health services for children and young people | Nuffield Trust
