Meanwhile, at the community-level approach - such as peer support groups and creative therapies like art-making—are gaining traction as impactful, accessible ways to support mental well-being beyond clinical settings.
Meaningful inclusion of lived experience must be central to mental health reform. Parth Sharma, Chairperson of Global Mental Health Peer Network, advocated for a paradigm shift towards inclusivity, asserting that true progress in mental health requires integrating the insights and expertise of those directly affected by mental health conditions. This approach not only empowers individuals but also ensures that mental health strategies are more effective and culturally relevant.
Dr Eric Finkelstein, Professor of Health Services and Systems Research at the Duke-NUS Medical School, addressed the importance of robust programme evaluation to sustain and scale such efforts. He highlighted that different stakeholders require different forms of evidence: governments often demand randomised controlled trials and sometimes cost-effectiveness analyses before approving interventions; employers and insurers look at return on investment; while the public seeks clear, tangible improvements in health outcomes. Due to its low cost, one strategy that is particularly promising is peer support, especially if part of a stepped care approach that considers more aggressive interventions for those who require greater levels of care.
One area showing particular promise is peer support, which includes peer-delivered psychosocial interventions, individualised mentoring, and group-based discussions. Research indicates that all three formats have significant positive effects on mental health outcomes. Professor Vikram Patel, Paul Farmer Professor and Chair of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, in his keynote address titled “Scaling up Psychosocial Interventions: From Science to Policy” emphasised that psychosocial interventions delivered by non-healthcare professionals are among the most cost-effective and scalable solutions to address the growing burden of mental health conditions. Despite their proven efficacy, these interventions are not widely implemented, highlighting a gap between evidence and practice.
A defining moment for Mental Health in Asia
A key milestone of the symposium was the launch of the Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) Asia Hub. As the newest regional extension of a global initiative founded by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the World Health Organization, the MHIN Asia Hub connects over 2,000 mental health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates across the region. It provides a collaborative platform for sharing evidence, scaling innovation, and advancing mental health solutions that are tailored to Asia’s diverse contexts. All resources and tools available through MHIN are free and openly accessible, supporting efforts to build stronger, more inclusive mental health systems throughout the region.
Anne-Claire Stona, Global Mental Health Lead at SDGHI, highlighted the critical need for a comprehensive platform to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices across the region. Mental health inequities require community-based approaches tailored to the specific needs of each country, underscoring the importance of creating such a repository of mental health innovations and documentation to support evidence-based practices and policy-making.