Supporting governments to adopt mental health policies.

Abstract

It is important to support governments to adopt mental health policies and to integrate mental health policy into public health policy and general social policy (1), because mental disorder causes a heavy burden for societies (2), impedes the development of other health and development targets, contributes to poverty and differentially affects the poor (3,4) and, last but not least, because mental health itself is of intrinsic value as is physical health. In developing mental health policy, it is important to include consideration of stigma about mental health issues and mental illness. In a previous issue of this journal, the impact of stigma on people with mental illness was discussed (5). Stigma results in a lack of attention from ministers and the public, which then results in a lack of resource and morale, decaying institutions, lack of leadership, inadequate information systems, and inadequate legislation. By resulting in social exclusion of people with mental illness, stigma is detrimental not just to people with mental illness, but also 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, the World Health Organization (WHO) devoted both its annual health day and its annual health report to mental health, which called on countries to develop mental health policies (6-8). In the same year, the Institute of Medicine in Washington launched a scientific report on neurological, psychiatric and developmental disorders in low income countries, which called for immediate strategic action to reduce the burden of brain disorders (3). The European Commission plays an important role both in Europe and elsewhere and has recently produced a public health framework for mental health (9). At national level, various governments, national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), professional bodies and the media have played important roles in prioritising mental health in their countries (10-12).

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