The World Health Organization has called for mental health support to be made a central component of care for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), warning that efforts to control and eliminate these diseases will remain incomplete unless their psychological and social impacts are addressed alongside physical illness.
In a new departmental update, WHO has released the Essential Care Package to Address Mental Health and Stigma for Persons with Neglected Tropical Diseases, marking the first time a practical, evidence-based framework has been developed specifically to tackle mental health conditions and stigma linked to NTDs. The package responds to mounting evidence that people affected by NTDs experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, psychological distress and suicidal behaviour than the general population. These outcomes are driven not only by disease-related disability and pain, but also by stigma, discrimination and social exclusion.
The Essential Care Package provides governments, policymakers, health system leaders and frontline services with structured guidance on embedding mental health care and stigma reduction into existing NTD programmes. It outlines actions across the full continuum of care, including prevention, early identification, assessment, treatment, referral and follow-up, within routine health services rather than as standalone interventions.
With more than one billion people worldwide affected by neglected tropical diseases, the report highlights that progress towards elimination goals will remain limited if mental health and stigma continue to be treated as secondary concerns. The framework positions psychological wellbeing as integral to disease management, treatment adherence, quality of life and broader public health outcomes.
The guidance defines clear roles and responsibilities for individuals living with NTDs, families, communities, health workers and health system leaders. People affected by NTDs are encouraged to be supported in recognising emotional distress, understanding where and how to seek help, accessing peer support, and knowing their rights related to health care, employment and social participation. Families and communities are identified as key actors in early recognition of distress, supporting care-seeking behaviour, and addressing harmful attitudes and practices that reinforce stigma and exclusion.
For frontline health workers, the package promotes routine, compassionate and person-centred care. It recommends that mental health assessment and basic psychosocial support be embedded directly within NTD services, including psychoeducation, regular screening, documentation of comorbid mental health conditions, and clear referral pathways to peer support networks, physical health services and specialist mental health care when required. Training is emphasised not only to strengthen clinical capacity but also to reduce stigma within health services themselves.
At the health system level, the Essential Care Package underscores the need for coordinated planning between mental health and NTD programmes, rather than parallel or fragmented delivery. Key recommendations include strengthening community-based supports such as peer groups, integrating mental health indicators into routine NTD monitoring systems, and adopting collaborative care models, including the placement of mental health specialists within NTD services where feasible.
WHO notes that these measures are designed to be practical and scalable, even in resource-constrained settings. Integrated care is expected to improve overall wellbeing, enhance treatment adherence, reduce social exclusion and support progress toward both NTD elimination targets and universal health coverage.
The Essential Care Package was developed by WHO in collaboration with a broad international partnership, including Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network’s cross-cutting group on Disease Management, Disability and Inclusion, CBM Global Disability Inclusion, The Leprosy Mission, Netherlands Leprosy Mission, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, The Carter Center, Lepra, Effect Hope, the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations and its Advisory Panel of Persons Affected by Leprosy, infoNTD, the Anesvad Foundation, and other academic institutions, NGOs and organisations representing people affected by NTDs.
