A global mental health vision for 2035

It is exciting to be working in global mental health. It means interacting with people who are incredibly passionate about improving lives, with perspectives often rooted in real life, family and community experiences. 

But this work can also be frustrating. All too often, in meetings and events, we are reminded that it is a sector that remains unequal and, in certain respects, underdeveloped. Despite the increased interest in mental health over the past few years, our sector remains chronically and severely underfunded and there is still considerable stigma, and a significant (and increasing) global unmet need for the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions.

It is in this context that we recently launched our first multi-year comprehensive Strategy of the Global Mental Health Action Network. This Strategy is the collective "brainchild" of our membership and we have also spent time reflecting on what a reimagined global mental health sector might look like. There is so much inspiration across our diverse and international membership and a real hunger for change. Our members envision a more equitable sector, with a fairer distribution of power, leadership, influence, funding, services, and mental health workforce. So, as we are publishing our Strategy, we are also sharing a collective vision for what a different sector - perhaps a different world - might look like in 10 years. That is, if we work collectively and systematically in influencing, not only the decisions affecting people's lives but also, the structures (of power, healthcare, funding, training, partnering etc) affecting how we all work together in global mental health.

Indicatively, we would like in 10 years, in 2035, to live and work in a world where...

• Strategic international conversations and processes on global mental health include people with lived experience, young people, and representatives from marginalised communities in prominent roles of contribution.
• All countries are driven by national mental health strategies and policies that are evidence-based, equitable and co-produced with communities.
• International mental health organisations are reoriented to be closer to the people they serve, and global organisations in High-Income Countries take the position of the critical ally.
• Equal attention (in funding, investment and planning) is given to issues traditionally disproportionately under-funded, such as the social determinants of mental health, prevention and what matters to communities locally.
• There are no decision-making processes that affect mental health across the policy cycle, nationally and globally, that do not include people with lived experience, communities and civil society as full participants, including in leadership roles.

Our collective 2035 vision is an ambitious reimagining of a different future. It is not exhaustive; we will continue shaping it and working towards making it happen. There is no other existing structure with the ability to facilitate ‘Global to Local implementation’ and ‘Local to Global influence’ in global mental health. We appreciate the responsibility that comes with our unique position, and we see our strategy as a vehicle that can help us realise these aspirations, contributing to this world that we want to see.