Resource Library

Here you can find resources on policy, advocacy and financing for global mental health. Topics covered range from Universal Health Coverage, to HIV & TB and global financing.

Mental health and UHC

“No Health without Mental Health”: the Urgent Need for Mental Health Integration in Universal Health Coverage

A report published by Prof Shekhar Saxena and United for Global Mental Health (Dec 2020) that fully lays out the latest evidence on how critical it is to integrate mental health into UHC, and how the world can do this. 2020.

“Why integrating mental health into UHC is key to ensuring human rights”

A Devex op-ed, written by Prof Shekhar Saxena and Elisha London, that explores the close connections between mental health, human rights, and UHC. 2020.

“Putting mental health firmly into UHC efforts is critical to the success of UHC, and will reap benefits far beyond the health sector”

A UHC2030 op-ed, written by Dr Githinji Gitahi and Dr Maxim Polyakov, that argues that mental health integration into health systems is critical to ensure the full success of UHC implementation; and outlines the potential benefits of doing this at scale. 2020.

Mental Health as a matter of rights

This policy briefing, Mental Health as a Matter of Rights, lays out some of the key evidence around this, and makes five recommendations on utilising UHC as a strong and system-wide response to tackling systemic violations of the rights of people with mental health conditions.

Child and caregiver mental health

Parental and carer mental health: the impact on the child

This report documents evidence that points to the compelling need to strengthen existing research, programming and advocacy work in parental, carer and child mental health and it provides examples of past and current interventions to improve parental, carer and child mental health. 2019.

Parental and carer mental health: the impact on the child - Annex

The report specifically looks at the influence conflict and emergency settings make to the wider challenges facing parents and carers, children and their mental health. 2019.

Child & Caregiver Mental Health: Using Data to Make Progress

Produced in partnership with the Bernard van Leer Foundation, this brief examines child and caregiver mental health through the framework of Countdown 2030 - incorporating social determinants, factors affecting mental health service demand and need, and factors affecting the strength of mental health systems

Mental Health and COVID-19

Covid-19 and mental health: immediate and long-term impacts

This paper provides a summary of the (emerging) body of evidence on two topics: the impact of Covid-19 on peoples’ mental health and wellbeing; and, conversely, the projected impact of mental health on the efficacy of Covid-19 prevention, treatment and control measures. 2020.

The Impact of COVID 19 on Global Mental Health

This briefing provides an overview of some of the key issues regarding mental health and COVID-19. 2020.

Global Mental Health

Global Mental Health Advocacy Roadmap 2020-2021

The Global Mental Health Advocacy Roadmap 2020-2021 sets out clear objectives and opportunities that will help achieve significant increase in political and financial support for mental health in 2020 and 2021 to accelerate action to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and achieve the right of everyone to good physical and mental health.

Global Mental Health Advocacy Roadmap 2022-2023

The Global Mental Health Advocacy Roadmap for 2022-2023 sets out how we can collaborate to make change happen. The product of discussions and inputs from multiple stakeholders around the world, it identifies a series of objectives that will be central to accelerating progress on mental health.

DECRIMINALISING SUICIDE: SAVING LIVES, REDUCING STIGMA

Our Suicide Decriminalisation report examines the civil laws which criminalise suicide in 20 countries around the world, as well as their the implications and the efforts to reform them.

Mental Health, HIV and TB

Mental Health in the Global Fund's Post-2022 Strategy Narrative

With the development of the Fund’s new 5-year strategy, we now have a unique opportunity to ensure mental health becomes an integral part of its approach, work and grants. Our suggested text fits into the recently released strategic framework from the Fund on how health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) can be fully integrated into the new strategy.

Bending the Curve: The impact of integrating mental health services on HIV and TB outcomes

With this new research we can now confirm a longstanding suspicion - that integrating basic mental health and psychosocial services into HIV and TB programmes will not only help millions of vulnerable people, but will end these co-epidemics at a faster rate, and in a cost-effective way.

Integration of psychosocial support into the national approach to HIV and TB: ‘Better mental health to end HIV and TB.’

This overview of the complex bidirectional co-morbidity of mental health, HIV and TB makes the case for greater integration of mental health in Global Fund HIV and TB investments. 2020.

Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria strategy consultation

UnitedGMH’s response the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria 2023-2028 Strategy Consultation. 2020.

Mental Health in the Global Fund's Post 2022 Strategy

This document aims to provide the Global Fund with suggested text for their post-2022 strategy, with example text for each section of the document showing how mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) can be fully integrated into the strategy, and therefore into the Global Fund’s work, grants, and approach.

Proposed edits to the Zero Draft Political Declaration for the UNAIDS High Level Meeting on HIV

This briefing outlines what should be included in the upcoming Political Declaration for HIV about mental health, and how MHPSS can be included in the declaration.

Mental Health Finance

ROI 2022 - The Return on the Individual: Time to Invest in Mental Health

The Return on the Individual report turns the traditional approach to return on investment on its head and, for the first time, makes the wider social and business case for investing in mental health; and for putting people at the heart of investment.

Unlocking the Power of Philanthropy

Produced in partnership between UnitedGMH, Natasha Muller Impact and Arabella Advisors, this report examines the barriers of increasing philanthropic investment, both for philanthropists and the sector itself, and the opportunities for overcoming them.

The investment of the generation: the role of finance ministries in improving mental health

The briefing, shared with Finance Ministers at the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings 2020, makes the case to Finance Ministers for investing in mental health. 2020.

The Return on the Individual

The Return on the Individual report turns the traditional approach to return on investment on its head and, for the first time, makes the wider social and business case for investing in mental health; and for putting people at the heart of investment. It shows that when we invest in mental health, it creates a ripple effect of returns; right across our families, communities, businesses, economies and societies. 2020.