The World Health Organization on 24 November 2025 launched a cross government framework aimed at strengthening mental health policies worldwide. The guidance encourages governments to integrate mental health into all sectors including health, education, employment, justice and social services to improve access to care, promote prevention strategies and support sustainable policies.
The framework outlines eight practical steps for governments to follow such as initiating cross sector coordination, reviewing existing policies, securing funding and establishing monitoring systems. It emphasizes the importance of human rights, equity and evidence and highlights both the risks of neglecting mental health and the societal benefits of prevention and early intervention.
In addition to the overarching guidance, WHO has released twelve sector specific policy guides. Each guide provides strategic actions, policy options and indicators to help governments measure progress and implement effective mental health strategies across different departments.
The initiative represents a shift from traditional approaches that focus mainly on clinical services to a whole of government model addressing mental health across social, economic and environmental dimensions.
