“At any one time, a diverse set of individual, family, community, and structural factors may combine to protect or undermine our mental health and shift our position on the mental health continuum. Although most people are remarkably resilient, people who are exposed to unfavorable circumstances – including poverty, violence, and inequality – are at higher risk of experiencing mental health conditions.

Because the factors determining mental health are multisectoral, interventions to promote and protect mental health should also be delivered across multiple sectors. And when it comes to providing care, a multisectoral approach is similarly needed.

Mental health risks and protective factors can be found in society at different scales. Local threats heighten risk for individuals, families, and communities. Global threats heighten risk for whole populations and can slow worldwide progress towards improved well-being. In this context, key threats today include economic downturns and social polarization; public health emergencies; widespread humanitarian emergencies and forced displacement; and the growing climate crisis.

For AMWA, communities include highly stressed institutions like defense, police, juveniles under detention. AMWA aims to work across these diverse communities to affect the change in the mental health continuum.

We fulfill our duty to society by working with the weak, the downtrodden, the victimized, and displaced communities.”