Analysis of the Reform to Mexico’s General Health Law on Mental Health and its Alignment with the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030

Abstract

Mental health is an integral part of the right to health, as recognized since 1948 by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations [UN]. That same year, the World Health Organization [WHO] was established, with the mandate of guiding countries in the development of public health policies. Currently, the WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 serves as the global framework to promote mental health, prevent mental disorders, ensure adequate care, protect human rights, and reduce mortality, morbidity, and disability associated with mental health conditions. In Mexico, a significant step in this direction was taken with the 2022 reform of the General Health Law on mental health, which marked a shift from a traditional medical approach to one centered on human rights. In this context, this study emerges with the objective of analyze the reform through a comparison between the previous and current versions of the law, and evaluate its consistency with the vision, purpose, objectives, and cross-cutting principles established by the WHO in the aforementioned plan. The results show that the reform demonstrates a high degree of alignment with the WHO Action Plan, particularly in the principles of human rights, universal coverage, life-course approach, intersectorality, and user participation. However, significant regulatory gaps remain, such as the lack of explicit incorporation of the principle of evidence-based practices and the absence of operational and budgetary mechanisms for its implementation. It is concluded that the reform represents a relevant normative advancement, but additional actions are required to ensure its effective realization.