World Mental Health Day, observed on 10 October, focuses this year on the knowledge of people who have personally experienced mental-health conditions and care. The World Health Organization calls for that experience to influence decisions about services and policy.
WHO says participation should extend beyond telling personal stories. It should include designing services, evaluating how they work and supporting approaches led by peers. The campaign also highlights people’s ability to live in their communities with appropriate care and support.
A related WHO guide, published on 9 October, addresses the transition from psychiatric institutions to community-based mental-health and social care. This is a public-health campaign and policy discussion, rather than an announcement of a new medicine or evidence that one treatment is suitable for everyone.