PLoS Medicine (Jan 2012)

A United Nations General Assembly Special Session for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders: the time has come.

  • Judith K Bass,
  • Thomas H Bornemann,
  • Matthew Burkey,
  • Sonia Chehil,
  • Lenis Chen,
  • John R M Copeland,
  • William W Eaton,
  • Vijay Ganju,
  • Erin Hayward,
  • Rebecca S Hock,
  • Rubeena Kidwai,
  • Kavitha Kolappa,
  • Patrick T Lee,
  • Harry Minas,
  • Flora Or,
  • Giuseppe J Raviola,
  • Benedetto Saraceno,
  • Vikram Patel

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001159
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. e1001159

Abstract

Read online

Mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are leading causes of the global burden of disease and profoundly impact the social and economic well-being of individuals and communities. The majority of people affected by MNS disorders globally do not have access to evidence-based interventions and many experience discrimination and abuses of their human rights. A United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) is needed to focus global attention on MNS disorders as a core development issue requiring commitments to improve access to care, promote human rights, and strengthen the evidence on effective prevention and treatment.