WHO Recognizes Step-by-Step Programme as Promising Mental Health Innovation for Crisis Settings

The World Health Organization recognized its "Step-by-Step" programme as a promising innovation for mental health support in humanitarian and low-resource settings on June 17, 2026.

The programme uses a picture-based story format to guide people through evidence-based techniques for managing depression and anxiety. It is delivered with light support from trained non-specialist helpers, meaning it does not require licensed therapists to administer, which makes it practical in areas where mental health professionals are scarce.

Clinical trials conducted in Lebanon showed strong results. Nearly half of participants reported a reduction in depressive symptoms of more than 50 percent after completing the programme. The results were significant enough that the WHO is now working to scale the approach globally.

The WHO also released a practical guide, "Psychological self-help interventions: delivering self-help for individuals," to help health planners and community workers implement the programme in their own contexts.

Lebanon was chosen as a trial site because of the mental health burden created by years of conflict, economic collapse, and displacement. The country has one of the highest rates of depression and anxiety in the Middle East, and its health system has been severely strained.

The Step-by-Step approach is part of a broader WHO push to expand mental health access in places where traditional clinical services are not available. The organization estimates that more than 75 percent of people with mental health conditions in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment at all.

The programme is currently available in Arabic, English, and several other languages, with additional translations underway.