PAHO to support in implementation and scale-up of initiatives

Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda, 27 June 2025 (PAHO) — At the 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) yesterday, countries of the Americas adopted a resolution that places mental health at the center of the hemispheric agenda and supports the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in its work to improve access to mental health services.

The resolution, which promotes the improvement of mental health services and suicide prevention across all ages, urges Member States to enhance public and private investment through a patient-centered, rights- and equity-based approach that emphasizes community-based care, prevention, and recovery.

As part of the new resolution, and in coordination with PAHO, OAS Member States will establish a regional mental health partnership to strengthen collaboration, scale-up access, and promote the implementation of community-based mental health initiatives in the Americas. The resolution also calls for the formation of an Inter-American working group to develop a regional action plan aligned with PAHO strategies, as well as the potential creation of a regional mental health fund to bolster priority mental health initiatives, among other priority actions.

“To move toward a more prosperous region where everyone can achieve the highest possible level of health, we cannot continue to treat mental health as an isolated health issue. Instead, we must recognize the fundamental role that mental health plays in strengthening human capital, economic sustainability, and social well-being and growth”, said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director.

During the General Assembly, PAHO and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda also organized a side event: “Uniting the Americas for Mental Health: From Commitment to Action” which convened Ministers of Foreign Affairs from countries of the America to share, for the first time, progress and challenges in addressing mental health and to reinforce the priorities and opportunities for regional collaboration and action.

The event brought together high-level authorities, including the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, the OAS Secretary General, Albert R. Ramdin, and the Assistant Secretary General, Nestor Mendez, who was part of the PAHO High-Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19.

In 2023, the Commission issued a report outlining a package of priority mental health policy and strategy actions to be incorporated into countries’ post-pandemic recovery strategies. These include: elevating mental health at the national and supranational levels; integrating mental health into all policies; and increasing quality financing for mental health among others.

Over 160 million people in the Americas live with a mental disorder, many without access to quality health care. Suicide rates remain alarming, with over 100,000 lives lost each year. Globally, poor mental health is projected to cost USD 16 trillion by 2030 in lost productivity, further straining national economies and hindering progress towards development goals.

55th General Assembly of the OAS

The 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States, held from 25 to 27 June in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda this week, is the supreme organ of the OAS, convening Member States from across the Region. The theme of the Assembly this year is “Building Resilient Inclusive Economies in the Americas.”