Mental health on the global stage: launch of the Lancet Commission
We are pleased to share with you the most recent report by the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development. Launched at the first Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, held in London to raise awareness about the significant impact of mental health on people’s lives and to improve mental health around the world, the report provides an assessment of global mental health in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, it calls for, “a concerted and coordinated effort involving all stakeholders concerned with realizing the mental health aspirations of the SDGs.” It emphasizes the need to scale up services in order to detect, treat, and support people with mental disorders and sheds new light on mental health within the global health and development communities.
The report, which outlines seven key recommendations to improve global mental health was introduced by Vikram Patel, Co-Chair of the Lancet Commission. During the presentation of the report, Mr. Patel stated that he “would argue that mental health is the foundation, the very foundation of the capabilities and skills that each of us needs and uses in our everyday life to make our lives worthwhile and meaningful, not only for ourselves, but for the people around us and our communities. Indeed, mental health is much more than even the absence of mental illness. It is, in my view, the most valued and reassured aspect of our personal lives, our person, and indeed our humanity.”
Charlene Sunkel, Program Manager at Advocacy and Development, SA Federation for Mental Health echoed this sentiment. As a person with lived experience, she recounted being diagnosed with schizophrenia in the 1990s. Charlene explained that for her, the Commission meant “hope” and that it signified the change from being told she could no longer work or manage her finances in the 90s, to serving in her capacity on the Commission today.
To learn more about the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development, we share with you this short 3 minute video.