Welcome to the Congress
Congress on Mental Health: Meeting the Needs of the XXI Century
7-8 October 2016, Moscow, Russia
Message from WHO
On behalf of WHO, I am pleased to congratulate the organisers of the Congress of Mental Health: Meeting the Needs of the XXI Century, on 7 and 8 October 2016 in Moscow for planning this event.
Mental health is attracting increasing attention by policy makers in view of the importance of this area within health as well as within the overall development of countries and communities. The inclusion of mental health and well-being in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is a testimony to all countries in the world recognizing the value of mental health. WHO Member States adopted the comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan in 2013 to define clear objectives, indicators and targets for mental health and committed themselves to a set of actions to achieve the agreed targets. Individual conditions like depression, dementia and autism have also been the focus of discussion by high level policy makers.
The Congress, being a multi-disciplinary and multi sectorial one, is an excellent opportunity to discuss and plan for mental health attaining a high level of priority within the health and development agenda.
A lot needs to be done, and the needs are urgent. I feel convinced that the Congress on Mental Health will result in not only better understanding of the issues but also clear plans for action and a renewed commitment by all participants.
Dr. Oleg Chestnov
Assistant Director-General
Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
Assistant Director–General on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health of the World Health Organization