ASEAN and Mental Health: Regional Action Plans for a Sustainable Future

Photo by : https://ayoacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1-6.png Mental health is a state of being well with cognitive, emotional, and social functioning that enables one to reach their potential, cope with the problems of life, work efficiently, and make useful contributions to society (Bauman & Rivers, 2015; Galderisi et al., 2015). Positive effects, satisfaction with life, good interpersonal relationships, and acceptance of oneself are part of it (Bauman & Rivers, 2015). Mental health is influenced by biological, genetic, and environmental factors (Bauman & Rivers, 2015) and dictates how we behave, feel, and think (Richardson, 2020). Mental health is a major concern in the ASEAN community, propelled by various factors including economic integration, urbanization, and social determinants (Manndy Nget & Kasorn Muijeen, 2017). However, mental health services in schools and teacher training remain limited in most countries except Singapore (A. Nishio et al., 2019). These issues call for culturally responsive practices, increased social support, and policy change to develop equitable mental health in the ASEAN region (Alibudbud, 2023). This article investigates the key regional action plans for a sustainable future to improve the mental health of communities inside ASEAN countries. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sitting-on-floor-3767426/ Importance of Mental HealthMental wellbeing has been an acute issue amongst university students in ASEAN member states as well as amongst members of the LGBT community. Evidence has recorded huge prevalence rates for depression (29.4%), anxiety (42.4%), and stress (16.4%) among undergraduate students in six ASEAN countries (Dessauvagie et al., 2021). Importance of mental health includes: Improve workforce productivity Preserving social stability Improve healthcare system sustainability Increase youth development Strengthen disaster resilienceMental health is a component of overall well-being that comprises emotional and social well-being alongside physical health (Soomar, 2020). Mental health plays a role in helping an individual deal with stress, achieve potential, and reach goals (Kalita, 2023). Additionally, society, schools, and families must address the mental health concern through a multi-faceted approach (Kalita, 2023) and increased investment in resources and policies intended to improve mental healthcare globally (Bitanihirwe, 2014). Photo by Alex Green: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-ethnic-psychologist-writing-on-clipboard-during-session-5699456/ Key Regional Plan for a Sustainable Future1. ASEAN Mental Health Systems Support and Socio-Cultural BlueprintThe ASEAN Mental Health Systems Report (2016) is a milestone document that extensively documents progress in the incorporation of mental health into national systems and access and quality gaps. The report is aligned with the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, emphasizing universal access to healthcare and enhancing community resilience. Key strategies included:Legislative reforms: Promoting policies for protecting individuals with mental disorders and mainstreaming mental health in emergency responses.Regional benchmarking: Exchanging the best practices to enhance care quality in accordance with Member States (Molina,2024; ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, n.d.).2. ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda (2016-2020)This agenda prioritizes mental health, with a focus on:Equitable access: Expanding coverage to vulnerable populations, for example, adolescents and rural populations.Workforce development: Training primary healthcare providers and promoting specialization in mental health (Molina,2024; ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, n.d.).3. Alignment with WHO Regional RoadmapsASEAN's plan aligns with the WHO South-East Asia Region's Mental Health Action Plan, which prioritizes:More investment: Direct expenditure on mental health across health and social sectors.Community-based care: Strengthening decentralized care and reallocating tasks to non-specialized personnel (Mental Health Action Plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region 2023–2030, n.d.).4. Post Pandemic IntegrationASEAN's Post-2025 Health Agenda aims to mainstream mental health into public health emergencies as a response to SDG 3.4 and planetary health principles (Molina,2024; ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, n.d.).. Which included: Suicide prevention: Managing adolescent mental health emergencies exacerbated by COVID-19.Mainstreaming mental health into national health systems: Incorporating public health emergency preparedness plans.5. Youth-Centric StrategiesASEAN emphasizes youth through programs such as the ASEAN-Australia Youth Mental Health Fellowship, equipping young leaders to create community programs. Malaysia's National Strategic Plan for Mental Health (2020–2025) is a case in point, aiming at reducing adolescent depression by intervening in schools. (Mental Health, Injury Prevention and Violence and Substance Abuse Sector (MeSVIPP) [MeSVIPP], 2020; “ASEAN Discuss Shared Priorities on Youths Mental Health,” 2023) Photo by SHVETS production: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-psychologist-supporting-patient-during-counseling-indoors-7176325/ Practical Plan for Sustainable Future1. Policy Integration and System StrengtheningASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 and Post-2015 Health Development Agenda give significant emphasis to mental health as the pillar of community resilience. The key actions are:Legislative reforms: Promising steps towards safeguarding individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness and including mental health considerations in emergency plans (ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, n.d.; ASEAN Post 2015 Health Development Agenda 2021-2025, n.d.).Regional benchmarking: Dissemination of best practices via the ASEAN Mental Health Systems Report for the harmonization of care quality among Member States (ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, n.d.; Molina,2024).Workforce enhancement: Primary healthcare provider training and incentives for mental health specialization to counter shortages (ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, n.d.; ASEAN Post 2015 Health Development Agenda 2021-2025, n.d.).2. Cross-Sectoral CollaborationThe ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Leaders' Statement on Cooperation on Mental Health (2021) outlines several multilateral strategies:Suicide prevention: Reducing adolescent mental health crises compounded by COVID-19 with school-based intervention and online activity.Sectoral alignment: Utilising education, child protection, and family support to implement mental health education and address stigma.Regional workshops: Best practices on school mental health promotion and curriculum integration (EAST ASIA SUMMIT LEADERS’ STATEMENT ON MENTAL HEALTH COOPERATION, 2021).3. Youth-Centric InitiativesASEAN puts youth first through initiatives such as the ASEAN-Australia Youth Mental Health Fellowship, which equips young leaders with skills to develop community-based interventions. Some other initiatives include: Peer-led initiatives: Programs such as Gamlangchai (Lao PDR) enable young people to create resilient communities by supporting each other. Digital engagement: Websites like Better Today PH (Philippines) utilize social media for Psychological First Aid Training and sensitization (The ASEAN Admin, 2024).4. Workplace and Public Sectors StrategiesThe ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Government Responses towards Mental Health (2024) urges:Work-life balance: Flexible policy and mental health initiatives in civil services are being implemented to reduce burnout. Knowledge sharing: Staff training through seminars, webinars, and inter-sectoral collaboration (ASEAN STATEMENT on STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES on MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING towards ACHIEVING WORK-LIFE BALANCE in PUBLIC SECTOR, n.d.).5. Alignment with Global GoalsAEC and ASEAN plans include SDG 3.4 (mental health) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities) by:Integration of sustainability: Bridging mental health and environment and economic resilience in ASEAN Vision 2025 (ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, n.d.; Five Steps to Address Mental Health in Asia and the Pacific and beyond | Asian Development Blog, 2020). Digital health innovation: Scales up Healthtech interventions (e.g., telemedicine) to reach more people, particularly in rural areas (ASEAN Post 2015 Health Development Agenda 2021-2025, n.d.;Five Steps to Address Mental Health in Asia and the Pacific and beyond | Asian Development Blog, 2020).ConclusionMental health remains a critical concern across the ASEAN region, influenced by socio-economic factors, urbanization, and gaps in policy enforcement, despite current regional initiatives. Strengthening legal structures, developing regional alliances, and harnessing the power of digital innovation are critical to increasing access and improving workforce competencies. Aligning mental health initiatives with global targets like Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 and Sustainable Development Goal 11 supports an environmentally sustainable, community-based approach. In the years ahead, long-term financial commitment and culturally appropriate initiatives will be paramount to consolidating mental health and regional stability.ReferencesASEAN discuss shared priorities on youths’ mental health. (2023, June 21). asean.org. https://asean.org/asean-discuss-shared-priorities-on-youths-mental-health/ASEAN MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. (n.d.). https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/55.-December-2016-ASEAN-Mental-Health-System.pdfASEAN STATEMENT ON STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING TOWARDS ACHIEVING WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN PUBLIC SECTOR. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2025, from https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/47-Final_ASEAN-Statement-on-Strengthening-Government-Strategies-on-Mental-Health-and-Well-Being-Towards-Achieving-Work-Life-Balance-in-Public-.pdfAlibudbud, R. (2023). Gender and sexuality in mental health: perspectives on lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) rights and mental health in the ASEAN region. Frontiers in Sociology, 8, 1174488. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1174488Bauman, S., & Rivers, I. (2015). Overview of Mental Health in the Digital Age. Palgrave Macmillan UK EBooks, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137333179_1Dessauvagie, A. S., Dang, H.-M., Nguyen, T. A. T., & Groen, G. (2021). Mental Health of University Students in Southeastern Asia: A Systematic Review. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 34(2-3), 101053952110555. https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395211055545Five Steps to Address Mental Health in Asia and the Pacific and Beyond | Asian Development Blog. (2020). Adb.org. https://blogs.adb.org/blog/five-steps-address-mental-health-asia-and-pacific-and-beyondGalderisi, S., Heinz, A., Kastrup, M., Beezhold, J., & Sartorius, N. (2015). Toward a New Definition of Mental Health. World Psychiatry, 14(2), 231–233. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20231Mental health action plan for the WHO South-East Asia Region 2023–2030. (n.d.). Www.who.int. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789290210689Mental Health, Injury Prevention and Violence and Substance Abuse Sector (MeSVIPP) [MeSVIPP]. (2020). The_National_Strategic_Plan_For_Mental_Health_2020-2025 (1st ed., Vol. 27) [PDF]. Ministry of Health Malaysia. https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/Rujukan/NCD/NationalStrategicPlan/The_National_Strategic_Plan_For_Mental_Health_2020-2025.pdfMolina, M. K. (2024, June). Mental Health in ASEAN and What Needs to be Done. AYO Academy - by Youth, for Youth. https://ayoacademy.org/mental-health-in-asean-and-what-needs-to-be-done/Muhammad Soomar, S. (2020). "Importance of Mental Health" (Preprint).Nishio, A., Kakimoto, M., Bermardo, T. Ma. S., & Kobayashi, J. (2020). Current situation and comparison of school mental health in ASEAN countries. Pediatrics International, 62(4), 438–443. https://doi.org/10.1111/ped.14137Pranjit Kalita. (2023). The Importance of Mental Health of Student in the Present Modern Context. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2023.v05i02.1892The ASEAN Admin. (2024, May 28). Supporting Youth Mental Health Across the ASEAN Region - The ASEAN Magazine. The ASEAN Magazine. https://theaseanmagazine.asean.org/article/supporting-youth-mental-health-across-the-asean-region/ Yafesi Bitanihirwe, B. K. (2014). Mental Health in a Social Context. Journal of Psychiatry, 17(06). https://doi.org/10.4172/psychiatry.1000169

Dai Shaoling, M.Sc.

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