The 74th World Health Assembly is currently underway and will run from 24th May – 1st June 2021. As the main governing body of the WHO comprising of 194 Member States, every year, delegates from all Member States come together to agree on the Organization’s priorities and policies.
The theme for this WHA74 is “Ending this pandemic, preventing the next: building together a healthier, safer and fairer world” to account for the significant challenges that we have faced globally and to rebuild and learn from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The agenda includes the opportunity to discuss ‘Mental Health preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic’; giving IASP the opportunity to urge member states to remain vigilant and reactive to changes in suicide trends. In addition, the World Health Organisation aims to approve an updated Mental Health Action Plan for 2021-2030 with additional indicators and objectives related to suicide.
IASPs statement to the WHA 74 aims to ensure suicide prevention remains a key component if efforts to reform and improve mental health policies worldwide and calls upon member states to action strategic plans to meet these targets within the Mental Health Action Plan by 2030.
