THE WORLD HEALTH Report (2001) makes recommendations for action to be taken to improve the condition of mentally-ill
persons:
Provide treatment in
primary care
The management and treatment of mental disorders in primary care is a fundamental step which enables the largest number of people to get easier and faster access to services -- it needs to be recognised that many are already seeking help at this level.
Make psychotropic drugs
available
Essential psychotropic drugs should be provided and made constantly available at all levels of health care. These medicines should be included in every country's essential drugs list, and the best drugs to treat conditions should be made available whenever possible.
Educate the public
Public education and awareness campaigns on mental health should be launched in all countries. The main goal is to reduce barriers to treatment and care by increasing awareness of the frequency of mental disorders, their treatability, the recovery process and the human rights of people with mental disorders.
Involve communities, families
and consumers
Communities, families and consumers should be included in the development and decision-making of policies, programmes and services. This should lead to services being better tailored to people's needs and better uses.
Establish national policies,
programmes and legislations
Mental health policy, programmes and legislation are necessary steps for significant and sustained action. These should be based on current knowledge and human rights considerations. Most countries need to increase their budgets for mental health programmes from existing low levels.
Monitor community
mental health
The mental health communities should be monitored by including mental health indicators in health information reporting systems. The indices should include both the numbers of individuals with mental disorders and the quality of their care, as well as some more general measures of the mental health communities. Such monitoring helps to determine trends and to detect mental health changes resulting from external events such as disasters.
