World Federation for Mental Health- Newsletter- First Quarter 2001 (Last Updated On: ) Message from the President From Exclusion to Systems of Mental Health Care WFMH President Ahmed El Azayem The World Federation for Mental Health supports WHO’s new campaign for mental health which was the focus of World Health Day on 7 April, and will continue throughout the year. Together with our own World Mental Health Day on 10 October, this will present special opportunities for increased advocacy in all regions. In my home city, Cairo, the WHO Regional Office and the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Council of WFMH organized a conference as part of the celebration of World Health Day. “From Exclusion to Systems of Mental Health Care” was the theme of our meeting on 9-10 April 2001 (see page 3). Many events in other countries also marked World Health Day. A Vision for Mental Health We are asking our members everywhere to work with their local Ministries of Health on a national vision and plan for mental health. This vision should aim to develop a system that is equitable, affordable, efficient and technologically appropriate, with an emphasis on mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness. It should respect human dignity, and promote individual responsibility and community participation. It is timely and appropriate that Health Ministries give due consideration and financial allocations to mental health programs. It is essential to provide adequate facilities for the care of people in need, to ensure that their optimal potential is realized. The objectives of a National Mental Health Policy should be to provide direction for planning and implementation, and to improve both psychiatric services and other aspects of care provided by the family, community and relevant agencies. This vision involves equal access to mental health care for every segment of the population; a comprehensive range of services; and the availability of services within the primary health care system. National Planning The Ministry of Health should promote collaboration by its mental health services with the various other programs and activities needed to enable people with mental health problems to participate more meaningfully in the community. The community should take part in the planning, management and evaluation of activities to ensure pride of ownership. Planning and development of human resources for mental health should be a priority investment of the health sector. The effectiveness of services depends on an adequate supply of trained mental health care providers and allied health workers. The Ministry of Health, universities and professional bodies should work together to meet manpower requirements, and there should be an adequate budget allocation for training. World Health Day 7 April 2001 “The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that many of its Member States are ill-equipped and unprepared to cope with the predicted world-wide rise in mental and neurological disorders. Seventy-eight countries (43%) have no mental health policy at all, 37 countries (23%) have no legislation on mental health, 69 countries (38%) have no community care facilities and in 73 countries – 41% – treatment of severe mental disorders is unavailable in primary health care. The figures are based on information gathered from 181 countries by Project ATLAS, covering 98.7% of the world’s population.” – Press Release WHO/18, 6 April 2001 Inequities in Care “In the African Region, there are a total of 1,200 psychiatrists and 12,000 psychiatric nurses serving a population of 6200 million people. In contrast, in the European Region, which includes the countries of the former Soviet Union, there are 86,000 psychiatrists and 280,000 nurses serving a population of 870 million….” Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO Director-General, at the East African Regional Psychiatric Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 4 April 2001: Stigma and Discrimination “Stigma can be reduced by openly talking about mental disorders in the community, like we do here today. But we also need to constantly counter the negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding mental disorders. Governments must review their laws to ensure that legislation to reduce discrimination in the workplace and access to health and social community services is put in place.” Dr. Brundtland, World Health Day Celebrations, Mathari National Mental Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, 4 April 2001. A Wish List The Federation receives help in many different ways. Recently we decided to let our readers know about some current needs, to encourage members who might be able to offer special support. Our wish list is for: sponsored memberships for developing countries (US$15 per person; contributing members can specify the country for which they would like to provide a membership) funding to provide educational materials for developing countries contributions towards airline tickets and registration scholarships (or donations of frequent-flyer miles) for attendance at the Vancouver Congress volunteer help from an experienced grant writer Just recently the Federation received its first “wish list” donation. A longtime WFMH member, Dr. Mildred Reynolds, gave a contribution to update computer equipment in the Alexandria office. Now retired, she served as director of psychiatric social work at the George Washington School of Medicine, Washington, D.C., co-director of the Washington Pastoral Counseling Service, and maintained a private practice for twenty years. Dr. Reynolds is a consumer, and also Vice President of the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association. She is that organization’s representative to WFMH.