Countries of the Americas approve OAS resolution to address mental health crisis in the region – PAHO/WHO
PAHO to support the implementation and scale of initiatives
Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda, June 27, 2025 (PAHO)- In 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OA) Yesterday, countries of the Americas adopted a resolution that places mental health in the center of the hemispheric agenda and supports the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in their work to improve access to mental health services.
The resolution, which promotes the improvement of mental health services and suicide prevention at all ages, urges member states to improve public and private investment through an approach based on rights and equity focused on the patient that emphasizes community care, prevention and recovery based on the community.
As part of the new resolution, and in coordination with the PAHO, the OAS Member States will establish a regional mental health association to strengthen collaboration, access to expansion and promote the implementation of community health initiatives based on the community in the Americas. The resolution also requires the training of an inter -American work group to develop a regional action plan aligned with Paho’s strategies, as well as the potential creation of a regional mental health fund to reinforce priority mental health initiatives, among other priority actions.
«To move towards a more prosperous region where everyone can reach the highest possible level of health, we cannot continue to treat mental health as an isolated health problem. Instead, we must recognize the fundamental role that mental health plays in the strengthening of human capital, economic sustainability and well -being and social growth,» said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of Paho.
During the General Assembly, Paho and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda also organized a parallel event: «Join the Americas for mental health: from commitment to action « Which summoned the Foreign Ministers of the United States countries to share, for the first time, progress and challenges to address mental health and reinforce priorities and opportunities for regional collaboration and action.
The event brought together the high -level authorities, including the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, the general secretary of the OAS, Albert R. Ramdin, and the assistant secretary of Nestor Méndez, who was part of the high level of mental health and COVID-19.
In 2023, the Commission issued a report that describes a package of priority mental health policies and strategy actions that will be incorporated into the post-pandemic recovery strategies of the countries. These include: raising mental health nationwide and supranational; integrate mental health into all policies; and increase quality financing for mental health, among others.
More than 160 million people in the Americas live with a mental disorder, many without access to quality medical care. Suicide rates remain alarming, with more than 100,000 lost lives every year. Worldwide, it is projected that poor mental health will cost USD 16 billion for 2030 in loss of productivity, further striving national economies and hindering progress towards development objectives.
55th OAS General Assembly
55th The General Assembly of the Organization of American States, held from June 25 to 27 in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda this week, is the supreme body of the OAS, calling the member states of the entire region. The issue of the Assembly this year is «to build inclusive economies resistant in the Americas.»
