Mental health conditions affect the well-being of hundreds of millions of individuals, cause considerable disability and incur high economic and social costs, yet mental health is perhaps one of the most neglected of all global health concerns. A major reason for this neglect has been the lack of awareness of the burden that mental health conditions impose on individuals, families and societies. This lack of awareness has been compounded by the misconception that nothing much can be done, even though there are a great many effective pharmacological, psychological and social interventions available. The stigma attached to mental health problems, which in some instances leads to the worst human rights violations of our times, is another major barrier that stalls action. Put simply, the vast majority of people affected by mental health problems do not receive the treatment and care that we know can transform their lives.

However, here is the good news. In May 2013, 194 ministers of health adopted the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan in the World Health Assembly, recognizing mental health as a public health priority and pledging action. On the scientific side, after more than a decade of sustained efforts to build knowledge, we are witnessing a flourishing of innovations that successfully address the health and social needs of people affected by mental health problems, even in the most poorly resourced settings. This report provides a synthesis of the most promising innovations in treatment and care; specifically, those which are the most promising for taking to scale in all countries of the world.