Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020

From: Kelly ODonnell 

Dear colleagues,

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The Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 was passed here in Geneva at the WHO World Health Assembly (11:50am, 24 May 2013). This is great news and we have good reason to all celebrate. (see pages 7-8 of the Action Plan for a quick overview)

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Earlier this week (Wednesday) about 45 member states (representing several regions explicitly and thus well-over 100 countries) made very supportive comments. Five civil society organisations made very supportive statements as well including WFMH, CBM, World Vision and two pharmaceutical coalitions. Suggestions for minor amendments were made and after further discussion and debate today some were included in the final version which was passed.

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Many thanks to the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and the many organisations and colleagues in health and mental health who have helped to bring mental health into the world community’s health and development agendas. 

Please do take the time to review the Action Plan again. We are encouraging colleagues to refer to it often as health programs, plans, and projects are developed.  

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Warm greetings,

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Kelly O’Donnell

NGO Forum for Health, Geneva