TWO "WHO SUMMARY REPORTS"
PUBLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 2004

Prevention of Mental Disorders: Effective Interventions and Policy Options. Edited by Clemens Hosman, Eva Jané-Llopis and Shekhar Saxena. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2004.

Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging Evidence, Practice. Edited by Helen Herrman, Shekhar Saxena and Rob Moodie. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2004.

[The text of the two reports is available in PDF format on the WHO web site: http://www.who.int/mental health/evidence/en/ ]

On 16 September 2004 the World Health Organization released two summary reports, “Prevention of Mental Disorders: Effective Interventions and Policy Options” and “Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging Evidence, Practice.” These reports review the latest evidence that demonstrates how both public health interventions and social programs can promote and enable good mental health, and prevent mental and behavioral diseases.

Mental and behavioral diseases are a growing problem estimated to affect one out of four individuals during their lives. The reports reveal that not only the health sector but other sectors, such as child care, education, work and housing, can initiate strategies that can enhance the mental health of populations. These, as well as many other strategies, can also prevent the onset of mental disorders in individuals who are at a high risk.

“Since mental disorders are responsible for a large and increasing part of the total burden of all diseases, and treatment of these disorders has many limitations, prevention is the most effective way to control this escalating problem,” says Dr. Catherine le Galès-Camus, WHO Assistant Director-General, Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health. “Unfortunately, health professionals and planners are often too preoccupied with the immediate problems of those who have a disease to be able to pay attention to the needs of those who seem to be ‘well.’ We need to intervene sooner, when people are still on the cusp of having a problem. These reports provide solid evidence for mental health promotion and prevention of mental disorders in our health services.”

The evidence was brought together by some of the top researchers working in these areas from developed and developing countries. The reports show, for example, that school-based psycho-social programs can lead to decreased prevalence of conduct and substance abuse disorders. Timely social and economic support also prevents mental and psychological problems among communities exposed to conflicts and disasters. Early identification of serious mental disorders can result in more effective and complete treatment. In addition, improving nutrition, enhancing access to education, paying attention to the quality of the environment and housing, and strengthening community networks, can lead to improvements in the mental health of populations.

“The search for further scientific evidence for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness should not be allowed to become an excuse for non-implementation of urgently needed social and health policies directed towards preventing mental disorders and promoting mental health,” says Dr. Benedetto Saraceno, WHO Director, Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

The new reports were released by Rosalynn Carter, former U.S. First Lady, at the Third World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders in Auckland, New Zealand.

[Source: World Health Organization Press Release, 16 September 2004.]