Our year in review

This year has seen great progress for United for Global Mental Health as an organisation. Despite challenges caused by COVID-19, our support to global and country partners has grown. The universalism of the COVID-19 experience has increased the pool of potential new networks and champions to power the global mental health movement, and we have worked hard to raise the profile of mental health in the global response to COVID-19 through our policy influencing and information dissemination.

Over the course of the year, we have seen the global community come together at the time when it is needed most, and have witnessed great successes on a local, national and global level in advancing the case of good mental health for all.

Consistent with our approach and commitment, we have continued to put people with lived experience at the forefront of our advocacy efforts and have encouraged others to do so.

This year we led the launch of the COVID-19 mental health open letter (released alongside the report of the UN Secretary General on COVID-19 and mental health) in a process designed by, and focused on, people with lived experience.

The webinar series we delivered all year on mental health in the time of COVID-19 frequently shared the perspectives of lived experience from all over the world.

This year’s World Mental Health Day campaign was designed as a powerful platform enabling people with lived experience to share their stories with the rest of the world, while calling on decision makers to invest in more and better quality mental health services and support.

So what now? We are determined to continue the momentum created this year. We know mental health challenges faced around the world are huge, but we also know that our best chances of tackling them are together.

COVID-19 is putting mental health on the agenda for many people. As we look to the year ahead our work will be more important than ever and we need to encourage high-quality, rights-based services and support that truly reflects the needs of all those living with, or at risk of developing, mental health conditions.

Wishing you all the best and a very Happy New Year from all at UnitedGMH.