Making it real: Actioning the mental health strategy with Pacific Island communities

Abstract

Objective: This paper explores the practical implications of the World Health Organization strategy of focussing on community-based mental health and wellbeing ecosystems in the context of the Pacific Island Countries. It draws on the expertise of the participants of a collaborative workshop held during the Creating Futures conference in 2023 to discuss successes, challenges, barriers, opportunities in the implementation of the framework and to examine potential future actions. Conclusions: Some of the significant factors that make for effective and sustained community-based mental health systems include appropriate central coordination and oversight of community-based services, adequate frameworks for quality assurance, meaningful data collection and sustained long-term funding, as well as a range of workforce factors. Flexible and place-based approaches also need to be considered in effective implementation, moving away from Western diagnostic ‘labels’ to communication that is effective at the local level. Positive community resources as well as the relative youth of the mental health sector in the Pacific Island Nations are huge opportunities to develop affective and appropriate community mental health systems.