Give mental health patients a say in decisions - WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging governments to include people with lived experience of mental health conditions in policy-making and service design. The campaign emphasizes that these individuals should be partners in reform rather than just sources of personal stories.
Why it matters
This shift in approach aims to make mental health systems more person-centered and accountable by leveraging the unique expertise of those who have navigated the system.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Mental Health Day 2026, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments and health systems to move beyond listening to people with mental health conditions and give them a meaningful role in shaping the policies and services that affect their lives.
The call comes amid concerns that people with lived experience are often invited to share personal stories but excluded from decisions about their treatment, recovery and access to care.
The WHO, in its message on October 10, said the theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” was intended to recognise the knowledge of people who have experienced mental health conditions and make their participation central to reforming mental health services.
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