This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article. This work was supported by the China Medical Board (CMB ) to XSY, the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017 M622618) and the Central South University Postdoctoral Science Foundation (185708) to ZW. In terms of implementation, problems exist in both HICs and MLICs.

Careers at NIMH

Find out how NIMH engages a range of stakeholder organizations as part of its efforts to ensure the greatest public health impact of the research we support. Ultimately, these efforts will help build resilience, reduce the long-term impacts of mental health issues, and improve the overall quality of life for individuals and communities worldwide. The effects of decreased mental health are far-reaching, influencing not only emotional well-being but also physical health, productivity, and overall quality of life.

• We found that qualitative research methods, such as Theory of Change workshops, stakeholder meetings, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions, were frequently employed to understand barriers and facilitators of MHPPs’ implementation.
• Against this context, and while taking into consideration that many existing national mental health strategies, policies and action plans in the WHO European Region and beyond are now close to their expiration, we aimed to map and analyse tools and methodologies used to assess the extent and process of implementing national or regional MHPPs.
• Some countries also included NGOs as key participants in implementation (4 out of 38).
• Anxiety disorders, which include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, and panic disorder, impact nearly 264 million people, manifesting as excessive worry, fear, and avoidance behaviors.
• Bullying prevention initiatives, for example, foster a safe and supportive environment, reducing the likelihood of anxiety, depression, and other related issues.

Review: Methods and tools to assess implementation of mental health policies and plans: A systematic review — R0/PR2

Each informant was asked via e-mail to provide the national mental health policy or plan the corresponding evaluation plan (if existing/available), and any regional mental health policies or plans and corresponding evaluation plans. In the present study, we aimed to map and analyze evidence on the existence, implementation and evaluation of mental healthcare plans and policies in the European region, while also reviewing their content. Countries are increasingly launching national mental health plans, policies or strategies, however, their content has not been systematically analyzed, and it is unclear to what extent they are in line with the WHO policy as well as to what extent they are implemented. Guidance on policy and strategic actions for mental health and the social protection sector provides policy directives and strategic actions to address poverty, inequality, and exclusion through income support, housing, inclusive benefits, and combined social care and mental health programmes. Over 50% of these adults did not receive any mental health services for these disorders in the previous year—only a fraction of which employed behavioral health strategies .

EU support package on stigma and discrimination

This study provides insight into the progress of the implementation of mental health plans and policies and allows us to map them against larger goals such as the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan. In the absence of information regarding the progress of implementation of mental health policies and plans at the European level, it is important to establish an evidence base in this regard. MHPPs are generally in line with the WHO policy, aiming to strengthen care in the community, expand mental health promotion and illness prevention activities, improve quality of care, increase intersectoral collaboration, build workforce and system capacity, and improve adherence to human rights. We contacted 53 key informants from each country in the European region to triangulate the data from WHO Mental Health Atlases and to obtain access to the national mental health plans and policies.

Its imbalance is closely linked to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Addressing these lingering mental health challenges requires long-term interventions, greater accessibility to care, and sustained efforts to build psychological resilience in the aftermath of the pandemic . Healthcare workers, frontline employees, and individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions were particularly vulnerable to psychological stress and burnout. Constant connectivity can lead to information overload, disturbed sleep, and a lack of real-world social connections, contributing to poor mental health . Urban residents face higher rates of mental health disorders compared to those in rural areas, with research indicating that living in cities increases the risk of anxiety and mood disorders by 21% and 39%, respectively. The prevalence of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and burnout, has been steadily IHS California Behavioral Health Resources increasing in recent decades, posing significant public health challenges.