More than 185 million people live with mental health conditions in the Americas. Addressing the challenge requires action beyond the health sector.
Washington, D.C., 6 October 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Organization of American States (OAS) are marking Inter-American Mental Health Week 2026 (October 5–9) with a call to strengthen intersectoral action to improve mental health and well-being across the Americas, where more than 185 million people live with a mental health condition.
Under the theme “From commitment to action: Advancing mental health through intersectoral action in the Americas,” the Week seeks to mobilize governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and people with lived experience to accelerate the implementation of policies and actions that promote, protect and improve mental health throughout the Region.
Mental health remains one of the Region’s major public health challenges, with millions of people continuing to face barriers to accessing quality services and support.
“Everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including mental health. Yet more than 185 million people in the Americas live with a mental health condition, and most do not receive the care they need,” said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. “The health sector cannot address this challenge alone. We must work together across sectors to promote, protect and improve the mental health of all people,” he added.
This year’s observance comes as countries across the Americas have reaffirmed the importance of mental health as a public policy and sustainable development priority. In June 2026, the OAS General Assembly, meeting in Panama City, adopted the Declaration on Improving Mental Health in the Americas through Intersectoral and Whole-of-Government Action, which recognizes mental health as fundamental to human development, social cohesion, productivity and sustainable development.
PAHO highlights that factors such as poverty, inequality, discrimination, violence, social exclusion and lack of access to educational and employment opportunities can significantly affect mental health and make it more difficult to access care. The Organization therefore promotes a “mental health in all policies” approach that engages sectors including health, education, finance, labor, justice, social protection and the environment.
As part of Inter-American Mental Health Week, PAHO will host the regional webinar on October 8, “From commitment to action: Building intersectoral responses to mental health in the Americas.” The webinar will bring together representatives of Member States, the OAS and people with lived experience to discuss how to translate political commitments into concrete governance mechanisms, public policies and sustainable action.
The meeting will explore experiences of coordination across sectors, the role of inter-American cooperation in strengthening mental health policies, and the importance of meaningfully incorporating the voices of people with lived experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and services.
Inter-American Mental Health Week takes place as part of activities marking World Mental Health Day, observed each year on October 10. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) global campaign highlights the importance of listening to and incorporating the experiences of people with mental health conditions into decisions that affect their lives.
This approach complements the regional call to strengthen intersectoral action by recognizing that mental health policies and services are more effective when they are designed and implemented with the participation of the people they are intended to serve.
