“For me, mental health represents both a scientific pursuit and a commitment to humanity,” says Jesus Emmanuel A. D. Sevilleja, an epidemiologist with the National Center for Mental Health in the Philippines. “It allows me to contribute to fairness, empowerment, and the advancement of human rights.” Emmanuel’s work centers around data—he collects and analyzes information about mental health burdens, associated risks, and outcomes to help influence public policy, clinical standards, and impactful solutions. However, what truly directed his passion toward mental health were personal interactions with individuals living with psychosocial, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities, which occurred during one of his research initiatives.

“Meeting people who live with mental health challenges helped me understand firsthand the stigma, exclusion, and discrimination they encounter,” Emmanuel reflects. “Their experiences highlighted the pressing need to not only advance mental health science but also reform the compassionate delivery of care.” Inspired by these experiences, Emmanuel enrolled in the WHO’s self-paced online course titled ‘QualityRights in Mental Health.’ This six-part program focuses on dismantling stigma, promoting inclusive care, and encouraging human rights in mental health services.

“The course completely changed how I perceive mental health—placing dignity, recovery, and human rights at the center,” he said. “Going forward, I’ll apply rights-based principles throughout research—from how studies are structured to how data is interpreted—to ensure findings empower those affected, not just inform the system.”

Emmanuel emphasized that people with firsthand experience of mental health conditions should not be passive recipients of care, but rather, active contributors to solutions. “I plan to involve service users and their families in developing research and policy so that their voices directly shape outcomes,” he affirmed.

At the National Center for Mental Health, completion of the QualityRights course is mandatory. Yet, Emmanuel has gone above and beyond, becoming one of the top performers among more than 141,000 global participants. His journey mirrors findings from a worldwide evaluation of the course, which engaged over 3,000 learners. The results revealed that perceptions toward individuals with mental health conditions improved by 22.78% overall, with the greatest progress observed in low- and middle-income countries (29.18%) compared to high-income ones (20.58%).

“What stood out were the realistic examples and case studies showing how human rights can be brought into everyday practice—providing practical tools to challenge stigma, reduce forced interventions, and support genuine involvement of service users,” Emmanuel explained. “The course is incredibly accessible, designed not just for healthcare workers but also for families, communities, and those with lived experience, underlining that mental health is a shared responsibility and requires joint action.”

The global assessment also pointed to the course’s practicality and appeal, with a 54.17% completion rate—well above the usual 10–30% for such online modules. With participants worldwide, the program has proven to be a powerful driver of change within the mental health field. “At our facility, we’ve seen an increase in awareness, a decline in stigma, and a shift toward respectful, person-focused care,” Emmanuel shared. “I highly recommend this course. What makes it particularly effective is how immediately applicable it is across clinical practice, research, policy, and advocacy. Most importantly, it empowers individuals to lead change, aiming for a mental health system that is fair, compassionate, and truly inclusive.”

The QualityRights in Mental Health course is one of several free learning opportunities available on a variety of public health topics.

[1] Breaking stigma, discrimination and promoting rights: global evaluation of the World Health Organization QualityRights e-training on mental health, recovery and community inclusion.