As the theme of this year's World Mental Health Day, highlights, mental health is a universal human right.

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and of their family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services."

But healthcare, and especially mental health care, are not distributed equally, and far from available to all.

Access to mental health care is particularly unequal in low- and middle-income countries.

Community-based mental health initiatives are uniquely equipped to deal with this global challenge. In our new animation, we invite you to join us on a journey across the world as we investigate why.

In this video, we visit Khuluma, in South Africa, Burans in India, and KPSI, in Indonesia - to explore how local, tailored approaches can transform a community's access to mental health. 

With an intimate understanding of their own cultural contexts, expertise on the local causes of mental ill health and the unique power to break through stigma, Khuluma, Burans and KPSI are examples of the power of community-based mental health innovation.

Khuluma is a project run by Zumbido Health, the SHM Foundation's flagship program tackling social isolation by creating support groups that are accessible, immediate and anonymous using the power of digital technologies. 

Burans and KPSI are part of this year's cohort of Ember investees. Ember Mental Health is the SHM Foundation's flagship program that funds and mentors grassroots mental health innovation in the Global South.