Pan American Health Organization WHO Resources WHO Regional Strategies and Action Plans 8 October 2010 Policy document

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The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), with the Government of Panama as co-sponsor, convened the Regional Conference on Mental Health in Panama City from 7 to 8 October 2010.

They call on governments and other national actors to:

- Promote implementation of the Strategy and plan of action on mental health through a process consistent with the particular conditions of each country to guarantee an appropriate response to current and future mental health needs.

- Strengthen the community mental health care model in every country in the Region to ensure
eradication of the insane asylum system in the coming decade.

- Recognize protection of the human rights of mental health services users as a basic objective,
especially their right to live independently and be part of the community.

- Identify current and emerging challenges in national situations that demand an appropriate
response by the mental health services, especially psychosocial problems in children, adolescents, and women, as well as population groups in special and vulnerable situations.

- Increase the allocation of resources to mental health programs and services and ensure appropriate, equitable distribution of these resources, so that they are adequate to the growing burden of mental and substance use disorders, in the understanding that investing in mental health means contributing to overall health and well-being, as well as to the social and
economic development of countries.

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