The policy of ‘Leave No One Behind’ should resonate with people at all levels, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva, Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez said at the WHO Mental Health Forum in Geneva on October 14.
Sri Lanka updated the global healthcare community, which comprised policy experts and representatives of Member States and international organisations, on progress achieved in advancing mental health, providing healthcare support and improving the working environment that could foster good health and wellbeing among Sri Lankans.
The intervention made by the Permanent Representative dealt with three main points: the need for mental healthcare and delivery of assistance to be holistic; the importance of an inclusive approach that ensured availability of mental healthcare coverage throughout the entire cycle of vulnerability; and the sustainability of a supportive environment that assured security, empathy and care for at-risk individuals.
The envoy called upon mental health policy makers and experts to attune themselves to the urgency of addressing this growing global health concern as the international community pursued the UN Development Agenda 2030 and SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing.
A proper assessment of all risk factors is in order if comprehensive mental healthcare is to be effectively ensured, added Ambassador Azeez, emphasising that such an assessment would help countries find innovative solutions as well as scale their efforts towards the implementation of comprehensive multi-sectoral mental healthcare prevention strategies.