International Federation of Social WorkersTopic: IFSWOctober 28, 2026 The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a landmark guide, Shifting Mental Health and Social Care from Institutions to the Community: A Practical Guide to the Deinstitutionalization of Psychiatric Hospitals, calling for a fundamental transformation in how people experiencing mental health difficulties are supported. The guide advocates a move away from institutional models of care towards approaches that promote dignity, autonomy, inclusion and meaningful support within communities. Developed through a collaborative process involving people with lived experience, international experts, and evidence from across the world, the guide provides practical direction for governments, practitioners and organisations seeking to implement deinstitutionalisation. Drawing on case studies from all six WHO regions, it demonstrates how community-based approaches can support recovery, participation and human rights while reducing reliance on institutional care. The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) in reviewing the development of the guide, welcomes its strong commitment to person-centred, rights-based practice. Central to the guidance is the recognition and valuing of the voices of People with Lived Experience (PWLE), ensuring that those most affected by services are actively involved in the design, planning and evaluation of support. Akudo Amadiegwu, Representative for the International Federation of Social Workers to the UN and reviewer of the WHO Deinstitutionalisation Guide, said: “This publication represents an important milestone in advancing community-based mental health and social care systems that enable people to live fulfilling lives as active members of their communities. Social workers have a vital role to play in championing these principles and ensuring that support is shaped by dignity, choice and meaningful participation. The theme of World Mental Health Day 2026, ‘Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change’, reminds us that mental health support must be grounded in human rights, social inclusion and the expertise of people with lived experience. Communities, not institutions, should be at the heart of our response.” These themes were also emphasised by Sibylle Mani, Regional Commissioner for the IFSW UN Commission, Geneva: “For social work, the guide reinforces longstanding professional commitments to human rights, social justice, self-determination and relationship-based practice. It highlights the importance of individualised transitions from institutional settings, co-produced recovery and discharge planning, the development of trusting relationships before discharge, and addressing the social and environmental factors that support wellbeing beyond healthcare services alone.” The WHO has also expressed interest in continuing and strengthening its collaboration with IFSW, recognising the significant contribution of social workers across many areas of the organisation’s work. Mark van Ommeren, PhD, Head of the Mental Health and Substance Use Unit, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at WHO, stated: “Deinstitutionalization advances a principle at the heart of social work: everyone has the right to make decisions about their own life and participate fully in their community. Social workers are essential to making this right a reality, working with people in institutions and their support networks to plan supported transitions, secure housing and social protection, and connect care with opportunities for education, employment and belonging. WHO’s new guide offers practical steps towards this goal, and IFSW is vital to advancing it.” The publication marks an important step towards reimagining mental health and social care systems that are grounded in community, inclusion and participation. By placing the experiences and aspirations of people at the centre of support, the guide offers a practical framework for advancing rights-based, person-centred approaches that enable individuals to live with dignity, autonomy and meaningful connections within their communities. From a global IFSW perspective Priska Fleischlin, IFSW Global UN Commissioner commented that implementation must be carefully considered in different national contexts. While deinstitutionalisation is urgently needed in some countries, in others there is a risk that it may be used primarily as a cost-saving or austerity measure. IFSW UN Commission therefore calls on WHO and national governments to ensure that policy planning is undertaken in partnership with people with lived experience, communities, professional associations and practitioners before embarking on deinstitutionalisation programmes. The IFSW UN Commission also recommends its member organisations to advocate for implementation that ensures resources, responsibilities and investment are genuinely transferred to adequately funded community-based services, rather than simply being removed from institutional settings without the necessary support infrastructure. Strengthening communities must go hand in hand with ensuring access to professional care, support services and social protection systems, including in rural and underserved areas.  The WHO guide can be accessed here: WHO Deinstitutionalisation Guide. Language: EnglishCommission: United Nations