Overview

The mhGAP guideline supports countries to strengthen capacity to deal with the growing burden of mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) conditions and narrow the treatment gap.

This new edition includes 30 updated and 18 new recommendations, alongside 90 pre-existing recommendations. This is the third iteration of the guideline and reflects 15 years of investment in the mhGAP programme. The revised recommendations ensure that mhGAP continues to offer high-quality, timely, transparent, and evidence-based guidance to support non-specialist health workers in low-income and middle-income countries in providing treatment and care to individuals with MNS conditions.

Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• Glossary
• Executive summary
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1. Background and rationale
  • 1.2. Aims and objectives
  • 1.3. Target audience
  • 1.4. Scope of the guideline
• 2. Methods
  • 2.1. Contributors to the guideline
  • 2.2. Declaration of interests
  • 2.3. Identifying, appraising and synthesizing available evidence
  • 2.4. Decision-making during the GDG meetings
  • 2.5. Document preparation and peer review
• 3. Recommendations
  • 3.1. Alcohol use disorders (ALC)
  • 3.2. Anxiety (ANX)
  • 3.3. Child and adolescent mental disorders (CAMH)
  • 3.4. Conditions related to stress (STR)
  • 3.5. Dementia (DEM)
  • 3.6. Depression (DEP)
  • 3.7. Drug use disorders (DRU)
  • 3.8. Epilepsy and seizures (EPI)
  • 3.9. Overarching areas (OVE)
  • 3.10. Psychosis and bipolar disorder (PSY)
  • 3.11. Self-harm and suicide (SUI)
• 4. Publication
  • 4.1. Publication and dissemination of the guideline
  • 4.2. Derivative products
  • 4.3. WHO model list of essential medicines (EML)
• 5. Monitoring and evaluating the impact of the guideline
• 6. Updating the evidence
• References
• Annex 1. Contributors to the guideline
• Annex 2. Managing declarations of interest and conflicts of interest

Suggested citation:

Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) guideline for mental, neurological and substance use disorders. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

General disclaimers. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WHO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement.

The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WHO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.

All reasonable precautions have been taken by WHO to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall WHO be liable for damages arising from its use.

This publication is the update of the documents published in 2010 entitled “mhGAP intervention guide for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in non-specialized health settings: mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP)” and in 2015 entitled “Update of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) guidelines for mental, neurological and substance use disorders, 2015”.

Design and layout: Green Ink Publishing Services Ltd