Mental health - a global priority

Manjari PEIRIS

World Mental Health Day falls on October 10. The theme for this year is Making Mental Health a Global Priority by Social Inclusion of People with Mental Illnesses through Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination. Deputy Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition Dr. Terence de Silva said that the tendency of people getting into mental disorders are more as a results of the conflict prevailing in the North and the East, poverty, unemployment and for not getting proper nutritious food. "We have ignored these sectors for a long time. Even laws related to this field are very outdated," he said.

He said that though many initiatives have been taken to improve the situation of mental health of the people of this country, there is inadequacy of doctors and other trained staff such as psychologists, social psychiatrists etc.

"We are taking action to train them and establishing of social support centres to enable mental patients to reach these centres easily. The big challenge is as to how to take these services to the people of this country," he said.

Consultant Psychiatrist, National Institute of Mental Health, Angoda Dr. Neil Fernando said that 12% of the world's population is affected by mental disorders and treatment and support is needed for them. Of the population 1 out 4 people around the world experience of some mental illness.

He emphasised the fact that there is no development without health and alternatively there is no health without mental health. Mental health is linked to behaviour and it is everybody's business as it affects individuals, families and finally the entire community.

Founder Director of Basic Needs, Chris Underhill, said there is a reliance on mental hospitals for the majority of mental health services. According to him mental hospitals are often in deplorable condition and offer no rehabilitation activities.

"Professionals have a vested interest in establishing mental hospitals."