Policy and strategic actions to protect and promote mental health & well-being across government sectors

Tuesday 25 November 13:00-14:30 (CET), 12:00 - 13:30 (GMT) 

Online via Zoom

 

Register

Register to attend here

 

About the event

We are pleased to invite you to the Virtual Global Launch of the WHO Guidance on Policy and Strategic Actions to Protect and Promote Mental Health Across Government Sectors, taking place on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, from 13:00 to 14:30 CET.

See draft programme here

For the first time, WHO has set out concrete policy directives and strategic actions to protect and promote mental health across government sectors. The guidance covers 10 sectors — from education, justice and employment to housing, environment and interior — helping countries embed mental health in national policies and plans of these sectors, address the social and structural drivers that shape mental health, and put participation, equity and human rights at the centre of government policy and strategies.

 

The 90-minute virtual event will include:

  • An introduction to the guidance and its rationale;
  • Reflections from senior government representatives and stakeholders across sectors;
  • Discussion on how each sector, and government as a whole, can apply the guidance to advance effective, equitable, and sustainable approaches to mental health.

 

 

Programme

13:00 – Welcome

Ms Gabriella Stern, Moderator, Former Director, Department of Communications, WHO

13:05 – Opening remarks

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO (tbc)

H.E. Mr João António da Costa Mira Gomes Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations at Geneva

13:10 – Introducing the WHO Guidance on policy and strategic actions to protect and promote mental health and well-being across government sectors

Dr Michelle Funk, Head, Policy, Law and Human rights Unit, Noncommunicable Diseases & Mental Health, World Health Organization.


Audience reflection: “What excites you most about the guidance?”

13:25 – A conversation across sectors: voices from policy and practice

Mr Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Moldova
Mr Khairy Jamaluddin, Visiting Senior Fellow, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute (Singapore); Former Minister of Health, Malaysia
Ms Sibongile Monareng, Director of Psychosocial Support, Department of Basic Education, South Africa
Ms. Insherah Musa, Country Director for Free to Run, Iraq
Mr Sean Russell, COO and European Lead, Global Leadership Exchange; Retired Senior Police Officer, and former Director of the Mental Health Commission, West Midlands, United Kingdom.

Interactive dialogue with panel members

Facilitated by Ms Gabriella Stern and Dr Ahmed Hankir, Consultant Psychiatrist & expert by lived experience, Canada

Audience reflection: “If you could ask WHO for support to help implement this guidance in your country, what would it be?”

13:55 - 14:23 Interactive segment with WHO regional advisers for mental health