Lets invest in mind

That is what messages us this years mental health day

Every year 10th October is celebrated as world mental health, whose aim surrounds around raising public awareness about mental health issues. In light of the widespread concern for poor allocation of financial & human resource in mental health this years mental health day comes with the message & theme investing in mental health. The financial & human resources allocated for mental health remain inadequate especially in low resource countries. Majority of low & middle income countries spend less than 2% of their health budget on mental health. Mental & behavioral disorders account for 13% of global burden of diseases, yet on average the mental health budgets of countries constitute only 2% of their total health expenditure. Even though mental, brain & substance use disorders can be managed with medication &/or psychosocial interventions, only a small percentage of patients with such disorders receive even the most basic treatment. Initial treatment is delayed for many years. In developed countries with well organized health care systems, between 40% to 70% of patients with depression, alcohol use disorders & child & adolescent mental illnesses do not receive treatment in any given year. In developing countries with likely 90% treatment gap for these disorders, most individuals with severe mental health disorders are left to cope as best they can. Worldwide more than 40% countries do not have a health policy & over 30% have no mental health programme. More than 90% countries are without a health policy that includes children & adolescents. Out of pocket expenditure is the primary method of financing mental health in many countries (16.4%).Even in countries where insurance cover is provided, health plans frequently does not cover behavioral & mental disorders at the same level as other illnesses, which creates significant economic difficulties for patients & their families.

More concerning apart from poor allocation of resources in developing countries in the wrong investment. Nearly 80% of the mental health budget is spent on mental hospitals that serve only 7% of patients, whereas majority of the people with such disorders can be successfully treated through integrated mental health services in primary care & community. The service gap for children & adolescents is much higher than for adults. This is in spite of the fact that providing services to children & adolescents often prevents lifelong disabilities. The alarming low level of resources available in developing countries to treat mental illnesses, relative to the affected population for which the resources are needed must be highlighted. The generation of more evidence based approach to mental health budgetary planning, resource allocation & service development represents an underdeveloped but much need component of national health policies in developing world. The underlying recognition of mental health as a significant international public health issue has led to the growing need to demonstrate that investment of resources in service development is not only required, but also worthwhile. Specifically it is important to collect evidence of effective & appropriate mental health care strategy that are also cost effective & sustainable. Although the volume of completed studies remains modest, particularly in low income countries, there is increasing economic evidence to support the argument that interventions for schizophrenia, depression & other mental disorders are not only available but are also affordable & cost effective. To reduce the increasing burden of mental disorders & avoid years lived with disability or death, priority should be given to prevention & promotion in mental health. These strategies can be used by clinicians to target individual patients & by public health programme planners to target large population groups. Integrating preventive & promotive programmes with overall public health will help to avoid deaths, reduce stigma attached to persons with such disorders & improve social & economic environment. Given the prevalence of mental health & substance abuse problems in adults & children it is very natural that there is an enormous emotional & financial burden

on individuals, their families & society as a whole. The economic impacts of mental illnesses effect personal income, ability of ill persons & often their care givers to work productively in the work place & contributions to national economy, as well as the utilization of treatment & support services Today as many as 430 million people suffer from a mental disorder; nearly 1 million people commit suicide every year,1 in 4 families at least 1 member with is having a mental disorder. Family members are often the primary caregivers of people with mental disorders. The extent of the burden of mental disorders on family members is difficult to assess & is consequently often ignored. The burden of mental illnesses is expected to rise significantly in next 20 years. Are we doing enough? Investing in mental health today can generate enormous returns by reducing disabilities & preventing premature deaths. The priorities are well known & the initiatives, projects & activities needed are clear & possible. It is our responsibility to turn them into reality. With lack of adequate estimates about the prevalence of mental illnesses in india, it believed that such disorders are as common as erstwhile.Therefore mental health being recognized as an important public health issue craves for more investment both material & human resource to cater the needs of population. Very low & poor mental health budget, lack of adequate human resource, proper estimates of the severity of issue & a proper mental health policy should be the focus to cater this growing concern. Our mental health policy is still in embryonic stage. Increased mental health budget, adequate human resource in terms of psychiatrists, psychologists & mental health social workers, infrastructure development hospitals & psychiatric settings, provision of guidance & counseling in NMHP & DMHP & integration of mental health care with primary care are some of focus areas in this regard. The concern of mental health is more alarming & significant to the valley as well where it is believed that it has the highest prevalence of mental health disorders

In the country. In a place where every 1 family among 10 families has a lost someone & which has been suffering under the armed conflict of more than two decades, accompanied with the increasing unemployment & breakdown of traditional family & cultural ties the mental health problems have shown a high increase in recent years, which was the reason that certain voluntary organizations felt the need to intervene here in this arena. However the problems & concerns remain the same though with higher frequency. Most of the psychiatrists being confined to Srinagar city & their less numbers make it insufficient for the population & leaves many untreated specially toward rural & sub urban areas or delayed treatment in many cases. With continuous instability & rise in such disorders the health sector needs to focus more on this sector by allocating more financial & human resources. Proper implementation of NMHP & DMHP with provision of guidance & counseling & integration of mental health care with primary health care should be focus of policy makers. We need a comprehensive strategy & policy which addresses all aspects preventive, curative as well as promotional aspect of mental health. Voluntary sector which has contributed in this sector needs to be more innovative & wider in coverage in developing a proper progress in helping valley come out of mental illnesses Todays world mental health day asks us all to put an effort in increasing investment & contribution towards turning mental health into mental good health and reducing the sufferings of people with such illnesses; so if you are

A concerned citizen/person with a mental disorder Support & mobilize people with mental disorders in you country,community,society to self organize & advocate for change Educate yourself & raise awareness about mental health 7 human rights issues Advocate for increased funding for mental health to improve access & quality of treatment & care

 Promote positive attitudes, non discrimination for people with such disorders Volunteer to help A health care provider Respect the dignity & promote the rights of people with mental health disorders Ensure provision of good quality mental health care within the health care system & community A policy maker Identify new resources for mental health e.g. increasing tax on tobacco products Relocate investment from large hospitals to primary health care & community mental health care Foster intersectional collaboration. Adopt & promote mental health policies, laws & services that support comprehensive education,employment,housing & social services for people with mental disorders A donor foundation or NGO Include mental health in all health related programmes Advocate for policies that promote the rights of people with mental disorders Support the development & functioning of services in primary care & the community