title: A United Nations General Assembly Special Session for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders: the time has come.
abstract: Mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are leading causes of the global burden of disease and profoundly impact the social and economic well-being of individuals and communities. The majority of people affected by MNS disorders globally do not have access to evidence-based interventions and many experience discrimination and abuses of their human rights. A United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) is needed to focus global attention on MNS disorders as a core development issue requiring commitments to improve access to care, promote human rights, and strengthen the evidence on effective prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Bornemann
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burkey
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chehil
authors.forename: Lenis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John R M
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ganju
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hock
authors.forename: Rubeena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kidwai
authors.forename: Kavitha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolappa
authors.forename: Patrick T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minas
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Or
authors.forename: Giuseppe J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Raviola
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saraceno
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D003226:Congresses as Topic; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009422:Nervous System Diseases; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013997:Time Factors; D014480:United Nations