Essential care package to address mental health and stigma for persons with neglected tropical diseases

Overview

Over 1 billion people worldwide are affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and a similar number are affected by mental health conditions. People affected by NTDs often experience stigma, discrimination and social exclusion. This is often exacerbated by the chronic nature and visibility of certain NTDs manifested on the skin. Many people report distress associated with these experiences, and mental health conditions are more common among this group, compared to the general population. 

This document describes an Essential Care Package to address mental health and stigma for persons affected by neglected tropical diseases. It includes evidence-based mental health interventions, and evidence-based interventions to reduce population health-related stigma. This document advises all key stakeholders working in the intersection of NTDs, mental health and stigma, from community level to the policy level, on the implementation of effective prevention and care for people living with NTDs.