Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) Offers Guidelines for Treating Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders

The mhGAP guideline is a valuable resource for countries looking to improve their capacity to address the growing burden of mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) conditions. This latest edition includes 30 updated and 18 new recommendations, in addition to the 90 pre-existing ones. With 15 years of investment in the mhGAP programme, this is the third iteration of the guideline and offers high-quality, timely, transparent, and evidence-based guidance to support non-specialist health workers in providing treatment and care to individuals with MNS conditions.

The mhGAP programme has been instrumental in addressing the treatment gap for MNS conditions in low-income and middle-income countries. By strengthening capacity among non-specialist health workers, the revised recommendations ensure that individuals with MNS conditions receive timely access to quality care. The evidence-based guidance provided by mhGAP helps healthcare professionals provide effective interventions that are tailored to meet the specific needs of their patients.

One of the key updates in this edition is the inclusion of new recommendations on early intervention for MNS conditions. This reflects a growing recognition that early intervention is critical for improving outcomes and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. Additionally, there are new recommendations on community engagement and collaboration between healthcare providers, patients, and families to improve access to care.

Overall, this revised edition of the mhGAP guideline provides valuable resources for countries looking to address the growing burden of MNS conditions. By strengthening capacity among non-specialist health workers and providing evidence-based guidance on early intervention and community engagement, mhGAP continues to offer high-quality care to individuals with MNS conditions in low-income and middle-income countries.