Mental health conditions contribute to poor health outcomes, premature death, human rights violations, and global and national economic loss. The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has identified mental health for accelerated implementation of the 13th General Programme of Work (GPW13), covering 2019-2023. The time to act is now to empower communities and individuals to attain the highest standard of health, which can only be achieved when their mental health and well-being is ensured, and their rights respected. The vision of the WHO Special Initiative for Mental