Although mental disorders are a major contributor to the Global Burden of Diseases, in many low- and lower-middle-income countries, mental health care is still accessible to only a minority.

Psychiatric disorders haven’t benefited from dramatic progresses seen in other fields as pandemic diseases.

To increase equity in access to care for psychotic patients in low- and lower-middle -income countries.

Through mental health facilities at the primary care level, availability of psychosocial support, accessibility of medicines, awareness and reduced stigma, the program addresses what is seen as the main barriers to access to care. To achieve this objective, institutional partners (Ministries of Health), a worldwide NGO (World Association for Social Psychiatry), and a leader of the pharmaceutical industry (sanofi-aventis) are associated through PPPs. The complementary expertise and resources of the partners are pooled to build-up the existing health infrastructures and increase efficacy in patient care.

In partnership with local psychiatric networks, pilot projects have been launched in Morocco and Mauritania, and others are in preparation (such as Armenia and Guatemala).

The programs combine actions dedicated to:

• • Advocacy efforts towards political and administrative decision makers;

• • Increase awareness of communities of mental health issues;

• • Psycho-educate patients and families;

• • Encourage the creation of associations of patients’ families;

• • Train health care professionals;

• • Organize a sustainable supply of high quality antipsychotics.

The FAST project encourages the collaboration of all partners. It could be an example of innovative ways to address mental health challenges in developing countries.