A farewell message from Marten deVries

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A farewell message from Marten deVries

Dear Friends,

In the mid-1980s I was drawn to the Federation by a commitment to the cause of improving mental health, and driven by a vision of practical global interventions as well as a growing affection for its membership. Since then it has been a privilege to serve WFMH over a fifteen-year period as head of one of its Collaborating Centers, Treasurer, President and Secretary General.

The Federation, with its aim of bringing together all the voices for mental health worldwide, embodies the spirit and provides direction for those involved with mental health; maintaining this ecumenical community is the Federation’s strength and its crucial mandate. The tragic events of 11 September have made the importance of a global mental health community, now and in the future, even more clear.

Armed with eminent international reports (WHO’s 2001 World Health Report is a prime example) and an active consumer movement, the Federation is ready to sustain the growing awareness of mental health needs. Since this important time in mental health requires both advocacy and action, I have decided to re-dedicate myself to hands-on implementation with the Consortium Center for Public Mental Health (CCPMH) and to step down from my advocacy and administrative roles in the Federation. Today’s one-in-four prevalence rate of mental and behavioral disorders, with annual economic costs reaching above US$ 120 billion, forms the basis for my decision that I will be better able to serve mental health through a commitment to mental health education and capacity-building with media, business and governmental partners.

I am proud to have been involved directly or indirectly with Federation advances in such areas as increasing consumer and regional participation in the Board; the development of the World Bank position; the growing relationship with the International Labor Organization; and last but not least, successful advocacy for the Mental Health Division in the World Health Organization.

In leaving, I will reaffirm my commitment to the Federation and its aims, and encourage you to:

– Clarify WFMH’s position in the dynamic mental health field.
– Seek partners in mental health.
– Facilitate and empower self-help in mental health promotion, prevention and care.
– Increase your reach and foothold in the developing world and underserved populations.
– Sustain the focus on mental health and human rights, an issue where the Federation is unique.
– Develop the organization and funding appropriate for the achievements of these tasks.

Personally, I will shift my focus to developing programs in mental health. CCPMH seeks to coordinate a “global faculty” in mental health for the dissemination of information, education and capacity building. By means of an alliance between science, media and business, we hope to assure that evidence-based work presented in journals and the inspirational work carried out, for example, in the communities of Calcutta, Bangkok, Nairobi, Rio and currently in New York City, will be available to those who need it.

In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to WFMH for the opportunity of serving the Federation over the last fifteen years. I have enjoyed working with you and I look forward to the future both personally and for the Federation.

Marten deVries