Regional Mental Health Atlas. December 2015

Abstract

The WHO Mental Health Atlas was first produced as the Atlas of Mental Health Resources in the World 2001 (WHO, 2001). Since then, subsequent updates have been published (WHO, 2005; WHO, 2011). The Mental Health Atlas (http://www.who.int/mental_health/ evidence/ atlas/mental health_atlas _2014/en/) provides up-to-date information on the availability of mental health services and resources across the world as well as baseline data towards meeting the established targets of the Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2020 (http://www.who.int/mental_health/publications/action_plan/en/). Information and data for the Mental Health Atlas are obtained via a questionnaire compiled by designated focal points in each WHO Member State. The purpose of this report is to provide a regional and more detailed overview of the mental health situation in the countries and territories of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Data from the main critical areas of the mental health system development, including governance, financial and human resources, service availability and delivery, and promotion and prevention are individually presented.