Category FAQs Search : Mental Health
Question: Supporting Governments to Adopt Mental Health Policies
Answer: Mental disorder places a heavy burden on societies (Murray & Lopez, 1996); it impedes the achievement of health and development targets and contributes to poverty, differentially affecting the poor (Institute of Medicine, 2001; Fryers, Melzer, Shah et al, 2004). It is therefore important to encourage and support governments to adopt mental health policies and to integrate them into both public health and general social policies (Jenkins, McCulloch & Parker,1998). It is also essential to address the issue of stigma. As well as the impact on the individual with mental illness, stigma results in a lack of attention to mental health from ministers and the public, leading to a lack of resources, decaying institutions, lack of leadership, inadequate information systems, inadequate legislation, and inadequate attention to mental health by public health authorities. Stigma results in the social exclusion of people with a mental illness and is detrimental to the health of society as a whole. All too often our services are departure points for exclusion when they should be stepping stones for social inclusion. In 2001, WHO’s annual health day and its health report were devoted to mental health and countries were called on to develop mental health policies(Jenkins, 2001a; World Health Organisation, 2001a; World Health Organisation, 2001b). In the same year, the Institute of Medicine, in Washington, launched a report on neurological, psychiatric and developmental disorders in low-income countries which called for immediate strategic action to reduce the burden of brain disorders (Institute of Medicine, 2001). On our side of the pond, the EU plays a leading role both in Europe and further afield and has recently produced a public health framework for mental health (Lavikainen, Lahtinen & Lehtinen, 2001). At national M level, various governments, NGOs, professional bodies and the media have been instrumental in prioritising mental health in their countries (Department of Health, 1994; Department of Health,1999; Commonwealth of Australia, 1994).
(Source: , 16 Nov 2020)
Source Link: https://doi-org.onlinedatabase.librarynet.com.my/10.1108/13619322200500008