UN General Assembly resolution urges member states to improve mental health services
By Xinhua
The General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution urging UN member states to promote and improve mental health services.
The resolution calls on member states to promote and improve mental health services as an essential component of universal health coverage by integrating a human rights perspective into mental health and community services.
It urges member states to adopt, implement, update, strengthen or monitor all existing laws and policies relating to mental health, with a view to eliminating all forms of discrimination, stigma, stereotypes, prejudice, violence, abuse, social exclusion, segregation, unlawful or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, medical institutionalization, and overmedicalization. It encourages member states to work toward integrating mental health into primary health care by 2030 as an essential component of universal health coverage, with a view to ensuring that no one is left behind.
The resolution, recognizing that health financing requires global solidarity and collective effort, requests member states to strengthen international cooperation to support efforts to build and strengthen capacity in developing countries.
It also calls on member states to promote international cooperation to compile knowledge, experiences and good practices for, and build capacity in, the development, implementation and evaluation of their policies, plans and laws relevant to mental health.