regard to availability of mental health services, a median
of 6.1 beds per 100 000 population is available across the
Region; 64.3% of psychiatric beds are located in mental
hospitals and 35.7% are located in community settings –
general hospitals 18.3% and community residences 17.4%.
In order to bridge the treatment gap and achieve the
overall goal of the mental health action plan – “to promote
mental well-being, prevent mental disorders, provide care,
enhance recovery, promote human rights and reduce the
mortality, morbidity and disability for persons with mental
disorders” – the need is to focus on key strategic interventions
to scale up holistic mental health care as outlined
in the regional framework. The Regional Committee is
invited to endorse the regional framework for scaling up
action on mental health in countries of the WHO Eastern
Mediterranean Region