Guidance and technical packages on community mental health services - Promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches
This set of publications by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (opens new window) provides information and support to all stakeholders who wish to develop or transform their mental health system and services to align with international human rights standards including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Providing a detailed description of person-centred and human-rights approaches in mental health, and summary examples of good practice services around the world, the published guidance elaborates on:
- linkages needed with housing, education, employment, and social protection sectors,
- examples of integrated regional and national networks of community-based mental health services,
- specific recommendations and action steps for developing community mental health services that respect human rights and focus on recovery,
- and seven technical packages that focus on specific categories of mental health services and guidance for setting up new services. Including, the ‘Supported living services for mental health: promoting person-centred and rights-based approaches (opens new window)’ technical package, that references Housing LIN’s 2018 independent evaluation in partnership with KeyRing on service costs conducted across local authority areas.
The timely guidance represents a critical milestone in supporting mental health reform efforts to ensure that we build back better in the aftermath of COVID-19 and aims to empower governments, policy makers, health and social care professionals, nongovernmental organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders, to introduce and improve mental health services that protect and promote human rights.