Update of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Guidelines for Mental, Neurological and Substance Use Disorders, 2015

Excerpt

Mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are prevalent in all regions of the world and are major contributors to morbidity and premature mortality. In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), to facilitate scaling up of care for MNS disorders. A key part of mhGAP is the evidence-based guideline, published in 2010 and available through the mhGAP Evidence Resource Centre (http://www.who.int/mental health/mhgap/evidence/en/). The objectives of the guideline are:

1. To provide up-to-date WHO guidance to facilitate delivery of interventions by non-specialist health care providers in low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs);

2. To assist with the scale up of care for MNS disorders identified as conditions of high priority in LAMICs, specifically: depression, psychosis (including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders), epilepsy, child mental disorders, dementia, alcohol use disorders, drug use disorders and self-harm/suicide;

3. To provide up-to-date WHO guidance that will facilitate the implementation of the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 by health care planners and programme managers in LAMICs.