WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 10th OCTOBER 2009

This global awareness campaign addresses the continuing need to “make mental health issues a global priority.” Mental illnesses do not discriminate according to culture or age, and an individual’s mental health is an integral aspect of overall health and wellbeing. There is a growing body of knowledge on the benefits of integrating mental health into primary care settings. This integration would align the diagnosis, treatment, and care of mental illnesses with the mainstream healthcare system, alleviating the problems associated with the current separation of physical health and mental health care. The theme of this year’s campaign is intended to draw worldwide attention to the growing body of knowledge on integration which emphasizes the benefits of enhancing overall health and promoting mental health by integrating healthcare services. World Mental Health Day 2009 aims to provide consumers, families, and advocacy associations around the world with accessible information on this topic. Involving consumers at a grassroots level in the process of healthcare integration will strengthen the message that mental health is integral to good overall health and it is imperative that appropriate services are provided for everyone who needs them, regardless of where they receive those services. World Mental Health Day 2009, will highlight the opportunities and challenges that integrating mental health services into the primary health care delivery system will present not only to people living with poor mental health, their families and caregivers, but also to healthcare professionals and providers. As always, the campaign will focus on the critical role that mental health advocacy organizations, along with patient/ service user groups, need to play in shaping this major general health and mental health reform movement. Such informed proactive and sustained advocacy will be necessary if the movement toward integration is to result in improved access to affordable services that are of adequate quality for people experiencing mental illnesses and emotional health problems the world over. SEVEN GOOD REASONS FOR INTEGRATING MENTAL HEALTH INTO PRIMARY CARE 1. The burden of mental disorders is great. Mental disorders are prevalent in all societies. They create a substantial personal burden for affected individuals and their families, and they produce significant economic and social hardships that affect society as a whole. 2. Mental and physical health problems are interwoven. Many people suffer from both physical and mental health problems. Integrated primary care services help ensure that people are treated in a holistic manner, meeting the mental health needs of people with physical disorders, as well as the physical health needs of people with mental disorders. 3. The treatment gap for mental disorders is enormous. In all countries, there is a significant gap between the prevalence of mental disorders, on one hand, and the number of people receiving treatment and care, on the other hand. Primary care for mental health helps close this gap. 4. Primary care for mental health enhances access. When mental health is integrated into primary care, people can access mental health services closer to their homes, thus keeping their families together and maintaining their daily activities. Primary care for mental health also facilitates community outreach and mental health promotion, as well as long-term monitoring and management of affected individuals. 5. Primary care for mental health promotes respect of human rights. Mental health services delivered in primary care minimize stigma and discrimination. They also remove the risk of human rights violations that can occur in psychiatric hospitals. 6. Primary care for mental health is affordable and cost effective. Primary care services for mental health are less expensive than psychiatric hospitals, for patients, communities and governments alike. In addition, patients and families avoid indirect costs associated with seeking specialist care in distant locations. Treatment of common mental disorders is cost effective, and investments by governments can bring important benefits. 7. Primary care for mental health generates good health outcomes. The majority of people with mental disorders treated in primary care have good outcomes, particularly when linked to a network of services at secondary level and in the community. In Bahrain We started the psychiatric clinical service in primary care in 3 Major health centers, Hamad Town, Jidhafs, and AlDair. Soon the service will be opened in Naim health center. For international day we already established a special committee with our colleagues in primary care to celebrate the international day in the beginning of October 2009.