WHO discusses 'zero draft' of new Global Mental Health Action Plan

"The World Health Organization (WHO) discussed the 'zero draft' of a new Global Mental Health Action Plan last week, which, if adopted, would set clear goals for progress and aim to improve accountability in improving mental health care around the world," GlobalPost's "Global Pulse" blog reports. "The action plan will be officially voted for at the World Health Assembly in May, but the 'zero draft' of the plan received wide support at the recent WHO Executive Board meeting, according to Kelly O'Donnell, coordinator of the Mental Health-Psychosocial Working Group of the NGO Forum for Health, who attended the meeting," the blog writes.

"The adoption of the action plan would represent a turning point in global mental health care, said O'Donnell," according to the blog. "The plan lists four objectives focused on leadership, comprehensive care, promotion and prevention, and research, and has an overall goal to 'promote mental well-being, prevent mental disorders, provide care, enhance recovery, promote human rights and reduce the mortality, morbidity, and disability for persons with mental disorders,'" the blog writes (Judem, 1/28).