Global Mental Health Action Network

💡Beyond the High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health: Reflections, Implementation and Accountability The UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Non-Communicable Diseases (#NCDs) and #MentalHealth is a historic milestone in tackling one of today’s greatest global health challenges. Nearly one billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition, yet most lack access to essential care and face stigma, discrimination, and violations of their rights. Prevention and supportive environments remain critically underdeveloped. For the first time, Heads of State convened to place mental health firmly on the global agenda and commit to meaningful change - but this is just the beginning. Representatives from WHO and UNICEF, and experts from Peru, South Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, and the UK, will reflect on the journey to this pivotal moment and the outcomes of the political declaration. 🔶 #MHForAll webinar: Beyond the High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health 📅 Nov 4, 2025 - 1-2PM GMT 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eUC8dizs 📣Together, we will discuss how governments, UN agencies, and civil society can transform commitments into meaningful and lasting reforms, locally, nationally, and globally. Join us to discover how we keep the momentum going, put accountability mechanisms in place, and better mental health for all!

🌿The East African Mental Health Summit has brought together government leaders, advocates, people with lived experience, and development partners to accelerate scalable, community-level mental health innovations across East Africa. The summit organised by StrongMinds and the government of Uganda underscores the belief that real progress in mental health begins with communities empowered to lead and solutions grounded in local realities. 🤝 Key reflections from Being Initiative partners at the summit 💬 “The most powerful mental health reform in East Africa won’t come from new systems; it’ll come from communities that know how to listen, respond, and follow up.” Dr. Juliana Busasi, TAHMEF. 💬 “We must move beyond seeing mental health as an isolated issue. It is deeply interconnected with other domains of health, such as nutrition and sexual and reproductive health, and NCDs, where poor outcomes can be a driving factor behind mental health challenges. Only through an integrated, multisectoral approach can we create lasting and sustainable change for healthier communities.” Innocent Yusufu, Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH), Tanzania. 🏛️ Reflections from government representatives 💬 “Community mental health goes beyond healthcare structures; we need systems in schools, workplaces, and cultural settings that promote mental well-being.” Dr. Hafsa Lukwata Sentongo, Ministry of Health, Uganda. 💬 “In Kenya, we’ve trained community health promoters to screen and refer people for care, creating structures from community to national level focused on prevention and promotion.” Dr. Mercy Wachera Karanja, Ministry of Health, Kenya. 💡 The summit will also explore how to turn global commitments made at #UNGA80 into local action and will conclude with a regional Call to Action, urging governments and partners to scale what works, strengthen data and accountability systems, and invest in community-led solutions. Being Initiative, Grand Challenges Canada, and Fondation Botnar

⭐ We are delighted to announce the new Advisory Group (2025-2027) of the Global Mental Health Action Network! ⭐ 🌍 Our Advisory Group comprises 18 elected and appointed members, representing geographical regions around the world and major international mental health organisations. Our Advisors, along with our Working Group Co-Chairs and our Secretariat, make up our GMHAN Leadership Group, which is our main steering and accountability mechanism that ensures that our Network remains truly member-driven! Meet our Advisory Group: 🔹 Sarah Kline, appointed, representing United for Global Mental Health 🔹 Devora Kestel, appointed, observer, representing the World Health Organization 🔹 Giovanni Sala, appointed, observer, representing the World Health Organization 🔹 Ann Willhoite, appointed, representing UNICEF 🔹 Emma Rawson-Te Patu, appointed, representing the World Federation of Public Health Associations 🔹 Thomas G. Schulze, appointed, representing the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) 🔹 Djavila Ho, appointed, representing the Global Psychology Alliance 🔹 Ogenyi Isaac Agbo, elected, representative of Africa 🔹 Opiyo Martin, elected, representative Africa 🔹 Sasha Hajj-Assaf, elected, representative of the Eastern Mediterranean Region 🔹 Dion Ras, elected representative of the European Union  🔹 Yevheniia Usychenko, elected, representative of Europe (non-EU) 🔹 Tabitha Ellis, elected, representative of the Americas 🔹 Lucero Andaluz Llerena, elected, representative of the Americas 🔹 Priti Sridhar, elected, representative of India 🔹 Malki Umeshika Lokuge, elected, representative of the South East Asian region 🔹 Matthew Jackman BSW (Hons) GradCert Madstudies MASW, elected, representative of the Western Pacific region 🔹 Mei Li, appointed, representative of China 👉🏽 https://gmhan.org/people 📣 Not a member of GMHAN? Joining the Network will connect you with 8,000+ members who share your commitment to good mental health for all. You will have access to the latest news and resources from across the sector and unique perspectives from around the world. All members have special access to our online community platform, Circle. On Circle, you can network with changemakers, participate in exclusive events, and share success stories with advocates in 170+ countries - all in real-time! Membership is free for everyone. Register now! 🔗 https://gmhan.org/join #MHForAll #MentalHealthAdvocacy #GlobalMentalHealth

Thank you, NCD Alliance, for highlighting the voices of three inspiring mental health advocates from within our network: Lucero Andaluz Llerena, Muskan Lamba, and Matthew Jackman BSW (Hons) GradCert Madstudies MASW. As we reflect on last week’s #WorldMentalHealthDay, their message remains powerful: "Mental health doesn’t exist in isolation; it must be addressed holistically, alongside other development priorities, with a whole-of-society approach that values lived experience and co-designs solutions." 🎧 Watch their full conversation in the NCD Alliance post below.

🎥 As part of United for Global Mental Health's campaign for #WorldMentalHealthDay, several GMHAN members answered what 'Move for Mental Health' means to them. See the video featuring Charmaine Nyakonda, Lucero Andaluz Llerena, Sasha Hajj-Assaf, Yevheniia Usychenko, Claudia Larrea, Martin Opiyo, Ogenyi Isaac Agbo, Aastha S., Dr Antonis Kousoulis MD, DrPH, Dion Ras, Zion Ameh, Puspita Alwi and Sweetbert Anselimus! Get involved by clicking the post below and writing what 'Move for Mental Health' means to you. 🆕 Exercise can have a powerful impact on our wellbeing – from promoting general health and building positive social connections, to helping prevent or treat mental and physical health conditions. In partnership with lululemon Gives, we've released a new Need2Know brief about Movement and Mental Health. View it here: https://lnkd.in/eqMxMsgW

💡NEW Need2Know Resource on Movement and Mental Health for World Mental Health Day💡 Awareness of the #mentalhealth benefits of movement and exercise has been growing around the world. Exercise can have a powerful impact on our wellbeing – from promoting general health and building positive social connections to helping prevent or treat mental and physical health conditions. And yet, often many of us lack an understanding of these connections or the scientific evidence behind them. This #WorldMentalHealthDay, we’re launching a new Need2Know brief outlining everything you “need to know” about the relationship between movement and mental health and the positive psychological benefits of exercise. Download the resource to access: 🧘🏾♀️Peer-reviewed literature with the headline facts and figures  🧘🏾♀️Groundbreaking case studies showcasing the latest evidence  🧘🏾♀️Recommendations on advocating for greater recognition of this connection 💡Download the Need2Know now! https://lnkd.in/eqMxMsgW We’re thrilled to co-produce this resource in partnership with lululemon Gives, a new global impact initiative and the next evolution of the lululemon Centre for Social Impact. This initiative is backed by a $100 million USD commitment to advance mental health and wellbeing by harnessing the power of movement and mindfulness, and aims to impact 20 million people worldwide by 2030. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/esMjzrE9. #MHForAll #MentalHealthAdvocacy #MoveForMentalHealth

📣 "A move for mental health is a move for wellness…" As part of United for Global Mental Health's campaign for #WorldMentalHealthDay, we're highlighting some contributions from GMHAN members about what 'Move for Mental Health' means to them. 🧠⚽️ For Charmaine Nyakonda, mental health specialist at Grassroot Soccer, it means amplifying the importance of investment in fun, sports-based and play-based innovations for adolescent mental health promotion and prevention. #MentalHealth

📣 "Let everyone, everywhere, across the globe, enjoy mental wellbeing." As part of United for Global Mental Health's campaign for this #WorldMentalHealthDay (coming up on Friday), we're highlighting some contributions from GMHAN members about what 'Move for Mental Health' means to them. 🧠 For Zion, it means moving towards a world where everyone has support for their mental health. It means more action to ensure better mental health policies for all.