Telemental health, including telepsychiatry, has become a core component of Qatar’s mental healthcare system, enabling remote psychiatric assessment, therapy and follow-up care. Its rapid adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated timely intervention, reduced out-patient no-show rates and improved access across populations. Services have expanded to include allied digital interventions such as tele-occupational and tele-speech therapy, delivered within a hybrid care model. Operating within a national telemedicine framework, telemental health in Qatar demonstrates feasibility and sustained utility beyond the pandemic. Continued development will require investment in infrastructure, clinician training and telepsychiatry-specific policies to ensure safe, effective and equitable care.

A new service for adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems was developed in Qatar. However, numerous challenges were identified. In this paper, we reflect on the service development project, model of service delivery and achievements during the initial phases. The collaboration between government agencies to achieve improvement in the quality of life for this population was highlighted. Investment in training mental health staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in intellectual disability helped to facilitate improvement in care needs. An assessment was conducted on the service provision, and the results were reviewed to determine key priorities and offer recommendations. Local social and cultural perspectives highlighted requirements for improved understanding of the needs of the intellectual disability population and future service plans.

The protracted hostilities in Gaza have significantly affected the mental health of children and young people, many of whom have witnessed extreme violence. This article describes Qatar’s coordinated humanitarian and mental health response to the crisis, focusing on displaced youth from Gaza. The initiative includes trauma-focused care, integrated primary care and mental health services, safe accommodation and appropriate psychosocial support. Specialist mental health clinics were established, diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental disorders in a significant proportion of children. Tailored psychological interventions were provided, alongside pharmacotherapy, where necessary. Qatar’s model offers a comprehensive and replicable approach for other humanitarian settings.

The ongoing war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, has generated one of the most significant humanitarian crises globally, with nearly 13 million people displaced and over 30 million requiring humanitarian assistance. Although the physical destruction and mass displacement have been widely documented, the mental health consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety, remain critically under-recognised and under-resourced. This paper situates the current conflict within Sudan’s political and health system history, examines the fragility of existing mental health infrastructure and reviews emerging population-level mental health needs. It further highlights ongoing emergency and community-led mental health responses and identifies priority gaps for coordinated, context-appropriate intervention.

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is a semi-autonomous region within the federal Iraq, governed by its own regional government. The Ministry of Health (MoH) is responsible for overseeing healthcare services and their regulation. The region, categorised within Iraq, is a low- and middle-income, conflict-affected geography with a long history of violence endured by the Kurdish population. The region has no dedicated mental health budget, and the number of mental health professionals is limited despite a high prevalence of mental disorders. Service organisation remains constrained by uneven access, limited standardisation of care pathways, and gaps in governance and regulation.

Africa’s mental health burden is rising owing to population growth, ageing and a severe shortage of professionals – just 1.4 per 100 000 population versus the global average of 9 per 100 000. This article outlines insights from the first African School of Psychiatry (held in Agadir, 2024), highlighting key challenges and solutions. Culturally sensitive care, integrating traditional practices and religious beliefs, is essential. Strategies include telepsychiatry, primary care integration, mental health literacy (especially for youth), caregiver training, and research into epidemiology and genetics to address Africa’s unique psychiatric profiles. The article calls for innovative, localised approaches, increased funding and global collaboration to move beyond Western models. Policymakers and professionals must act to transform mental healthcare for Africa’s specific needs.

This paper describes recent developments in mental healthcare for women in Ireland and sets them in their historical context. The treatment of women’s mental health in the Republic of Ireland has evolved drastically since the 19th century, when institutions such as ‘lunatic asylums’ and Magdalene Laundries were commonplace. With deinstitutionalisation in the late 20th century, services adapted to community models, though these have remained underfunded. Recent years have witnessed dramatic developments in female-specific services and policies. Despite this progress, unmet needs remain in eating disorders, mental health support for pregnancy loss, infertility and embedding trauma-informed care.

Consistent with many countries in the region, the Republic of Guatemala likely has a high level of mental health need. However, with high poverty rates and workforce deficits, Guatemala faces challenges in providing accessible mental healthcare across the nation. We describe examples of interventions that have been developed to reduce this mental health gap by addressing the existing barriers to accessing mental healthcare. Within this country profile, we identify further opportunities, such as future mental health legislation, to improve access to services across the human lifespan, especially for at-risk and underserved communities.

Colombia’s armed conflict has deeply impacted women’s mental health, particularly in rural and marginalised areas, where violence has become normalised. Despite legal recognition of mental health as a right, access to care remains limited due to geographic, cultural, systemic and security barriers. Mental health programmes lack continuity and funding, while professional training, availability and research in trauma-informed care are still insufficient. Institutional mistrust and ongoing threats further silence women’s suffering. This paper describes the current state of mental health services for women affected by armed conflict in Colombia and reflects on the persistent challenges.

In recent years, the Sultanate of Oman has made strides in telehealth services to improve healthcare access for underserved patients, specifically through telephone consultations and digital appointment scheduling. However, the lack of technological infrastructure, insufficient training for healthcare providers and the absence of a unified digital system limit its full potential. As a result, patients in remote areas experience delays in diagnosis and treatment.

This paper reviews the development of Aotearoa-New Zealand’s (New Zealand’s) specialist Mental Health and Addiction Services (MH&A Services) and Mental Health and Addiction plans (MH&A Plans) to improve the mental well-being of all New Zealanders. It does so in the context of New Zealand’s 2022 health reforms, and the government’s response to its 2018 Inquiry into MH&A (He Ara Oranga). First, the context for reform is described, including New Zealand’s sociodemography, existing data monitoring systems, mental health epidemiology and a current overview of its specialist MH&A Services. The findings of the He Ara Oranga Inquiry and the goals of the MH&A plans are then outlined, along with progress in establishing new initiatives related to them. Finally, challenges to the new direction for New Zealand’s MH&A system are reviewed, with possible strategies to address them and other key implementation challenges involving the separation and operationalisation of the main strategies of MH&A plans. A high-level view of MH&A Services is taken, rather than one detailing speciality services such as age-related, cultural or addiction services.

This paper aims to give an overview of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Aotearoa New Zealand. We provide a brief overview of the demographics of the country and include the most up-to-date epidemiological data on child and adolescent mental health. To meet these psychiatric needs, we consider the present workforce, governance, funding and structure of CAMHS. Current psychiatric practice is heavily influenced by the country's unique history and cultural mix. Aotearoa New Zealand is noted for outstanding epidemiological research.

We synthesise perinatal mental health (PMH) evidence and provide recommendations for future research and practices in Pakistan. The burden is significantly higher relative to many other countries, with adverse effects on women and children. Few locally developed interventions involving non-specialists have shown promise, but integrating these into maternal and child health services (MCH) at scale remains a challenge. We recommend broadening the scope of PMH research in accordance with the World Health Organization's stepped care model, and advancing the use of implementation science, digital technology and exploring low-cost models. Programmes and policies should prioritise incorporating PMH into MCH services in health planning and budgeting.

Uzbekistan's mental health system is undergoing significant reform aimed at improving care and service delivery. This article provides a comprehensive evaluation of the current state of Uzbekistan's mental health system using the WHO 2010 monitoring and evaluation framework. It also details ongoing reforms designed to address systemic issues, enhance mental healthcare and ensure better health outcomes for the population.

Mental health services in Japan are fully integrated into the broader healthcare system, and patients have access to a wide range of services and specialists. In addition, psychiatry services are part of comprehensive mental healthcare that provides social support to address the whole person's needs. However, there are still challenges in the mental health system in Japan, including overuse of hospital beds and coercive practices such as involuntary admission, restraint and seclusion. This article will explore the current state of mental health services, the challenges the country still faces and the efforts being made to address these challenges.

The challenges besetting the Philippine mental health system demand multifaceted, strategic responses to ensure the holistic well-being of Filipino youth. Through the integration of mental health into primary care, augmentation of the professional workforce, bolstering information infrastructure, reforming medication accessibility, augmenting budgetary allocations and invigorating governance, the Philippines can pave the way for an inclusive mental health system that adequately addresses the exigencies of its younger demographic. In doing so, the nation can make substantial strides towards alleviating the negative impacts of adverse social conditions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, on the mental well-being of its youth.

We aim to describe the Australian child and adolescent mental health system, which has its historical origins in the child guidance clinic, with recent efforts at modernisation to meet community needs and major policy innovations, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and expansion of digital/telehealth services. Shared funding/responsibility across commonwealth and state/territory governments has resulted in country-wide variations, allowing innovation but also introducing fragmentation and duplication. The increase in demand outstripping supply (which was exacerbated by workforce shortages resulting from the pandemic), the lack of robust evaluation, and poor service integration (which make navigation difficult for families) are ongoing challenges.

A landmark South African Mental Health Conference took place in April 2023, marking the first national collaborative conference between government and mental health professionals. The theme was Join the Movement, and a ‘whole of society’ approach was emphasised, imploring various sectors to collaborate in relieving the country's burden of mental illness. Challenges in mental health were raised and possible solutions presented. This article discusses the conference, aspects of psychiatric care in South Africa, South Africa's health system issues and the importance of moving forward measurably.

Norway has, according to the World Health Organization, more psychiatrists engaged in public health services per head of population than any other country, and the proportionate numbers of psychologists and others engaged in mental healthcare are also among the world's highest. Approximately 10% of Norway's gross domestic product is spent on health, expenditure per capita that is the fourth highest internationally. We discuss how this wealth of expertise translates into the delivery of services to the public.

Australia was one of the first countries to develop a national mental health strategy. This article reviews the progress of reform, outlining some strengths, weaknesses and prospective challenges.