Ahead of World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new guide to support countries in shifting away from institutionalized mental health care models focused on long-term stays in psychiatric experience at the centre
The new DI guide aligns with this year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” and highlights the importance of ensuring that people with lived experience are active partners in shaping the policies, services and decisions that affect their lives.
Too often, people who have experienced institutional care are left out of decisions about how mental health systems are designed and reformed – decisions that directly shape the care, treatment and support they receive. Yet their knowledge and experience are vital to understanding what helps people recover, take part in community life, and access the services and support they need.
“Shifting towards community-based mental health care must be done with people who know what it means to go through institutional care, not for them,” said Grace Gatera, independent lived experience consultant and advocate. “Their expertise, alongside that of others, is essential to building services that support choice, recovery and participation in community life.”
The guide was developed with experts from around the world, including people with lived experience. Its practical approaches can be adapted to different countries and local contexts.
On World Mental Health Day, WHO is calling on governments and services to accelerate the shift from institutional to community-based mental health care and build mental health systems together with people with lived experience, not simply for them.
About WHO
Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, WHO leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere, an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the United Nations’ agency for health that connects nations, partners and people in more than 150 locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to support all countries to promote, provide and protect health. “Together for health. Stand with science”, the theme of World Health Day 2026, marks a year-long campaign to highlight science as the foundation for protecting health and well-being worldwide.
