Mental health needs have been recognized as a priority area by the World Health Organization (WHO), and a Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013) was proposed to address the needs of millions of people around the world. Concerns have been raised about the degree to which current global efforts are appropriate and sufficient for promoting mental health (MH), reducing the risk for common MH disorders, and addressing the needs of individuals experiencing mental illness. This commentary expands on the presentation of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice's Task Force on Global Mental Health at the 16th Biennial Conference of the Society for Community Research and Action, held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada June 21-24, 2017, "Building Capacity to Address Mental Illness and Emotional Distress in Low-Resource Settings and Among Refugee Populations." Utilizing a socioecological framework, this commentary offers a call to action in addressing global mental health by emphasizing the need for greater investments in wellness promotion, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Importantly, such efforts need to value local knowledge and culture, harness natural existing resources and assets, and ensure equitable distribution of key resources for MH. © 2018 Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice.

Global mental health Promotion Recovery Treatment prevention

Needs Assessment refugee mental health service health care planning lowest income group health promotion health care policy community care mental health human medical research coping behavior multidisciplinary team resource management mental health care knowledge mental disease investment Canada Mental Health Recovery cultural factor emotional stress Article health care financing program appropriateness health education global health psychological well-being world health organization risk reduction