Developing the WHO Mosaic Toolkit to End Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health : A participatory approach.

Abstract

Stigma and discrimination related to mental health are major global challenges that demand urgent, evidence-based responses. The Mosaic Toolkit to End Stigma and Discrimination was developed in response to calls for practical guidance to end stigma and discrimination. This article outlines the co-production process behind the toolkit's creation, carried out from December 2022 to August 2024, through a collaboration between World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, the Global Mental Health Peer Network, and King's College London. The development involved extensive consultation with individuals with lived experience and a wide range of stakeholders, ensuring cultural relevance, inclusivity, and applicability in diverse settings. The toolkit outlines core principles for stigma reduction, an action-oriented process model, illustrative case studies, and supportive resources including advocacy tools. Grounded in the principle of "nothing about us without us" and the power of social contact, the practical strategies within the WHO Mosaic Toolkit offers a concrete path to ending mental health stigma. The next crucial step will involve supporting implementation in real-world contexts to create lasting change. Designed for global application, the toolkit aims to foster dignity, inclusion, and rights-based approaches to end mental health stigma and discrimination.