Country Correspondent: Roosa Tikkanen
In October 2018, health ministers from 47 countries came together to discuss the shared mental health challenges facing their nations in the first-ever Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, held in London. The event was hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the U.K. Department of Health and Social Care, with support from by the World Health Organization. The summit produced a Global Declaration that documents political leaders’ commitment as well as coordinated action to reduce the stigma of mental illness, expand access to prevention and treatment, and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions. In addition to ministers, the event attracted delegates from 61 countries including researchers, policymakers, patients, members of royal families and celebrities, and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May.