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- New Mental Health
Countries Atlas
Mental health
Health topics - Glaring inequalities f
Feature people with mental
Publications disorders
WHO
Research tools Denied citizens
WHO sites Mental health and human rights - WHO's framework on
mental health, human
Mental health rights and legislation
home [pdf 47KB]
Evidence and The bare facts:
- 1st International For
research
on community mental

450 million people worldwide are affected by mental, neurological
Policy and services health services
or behavioural problems at any time.
Advocacy
About 873,000 people die by suicide every year.
- Communiqu

Mental illnesses are common to all countries and cause immense
Neurology and suffering. People with these disorders are often subjected to social
public health isolation, poor quality of life and increased mortality. These - Comunicado de pren
disorders are the cause of staggering economic and social costs.
Disorders

One in four patients visiting a health service has at least one
management JUST PUBLISHED:
mental, neurological or behavioural disorder but most of these
Suicide Prevention disorders are neither diagnosed nor treated.
Atlas on Epilepsy [pdf
and special
Mental illnesses affect and are affected by chronic conditions such
1.68MB]
programmes as cancer, heart and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and
HIV/AIDS. Untreated, they bring about unhealthy behaviour, non-
Mental health in compliance with prescribed medical regimens, diminished immune
emergencies functioning, and poor prognosis.

Cost-effective treatments exist for most disorders and, if correctly
applied, could enable most of those affected to become functioning
members of society.

Barriers to effective treatment of mental illness include lack of
recognition of the seriousness of mental illness and lack of
understanding about the benefits of services. Policy makers,
insurance companies, health and labour policies, and the public at
large – all discriminate between physical and mental problems.

Most middle and low-income countries devote less than 1% of their
health expenditure to mental health. Consequently mental health
policies, legislation, community care facilities, and treatments for
people with mental illness are not given the priority they deserve.
Resource
Objectives health, human rights a
legislation [pdf 872KB

The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse provides leadership

and guidance for the achievement of two broad objectives: (a) closing the
gap between what is needed and what is currently available to reduce the
burden of mental disorders worldwide, and (b) promoting mental health.
The recently launched mental health Global Action Programme (mhGAP)
focuses on forging strategic partnerships to enhance countries’ capacity to
combat stigma, reduce the burden of mental disorders and promote
mental health.

The objectives are pursued through strong linkages within WHO,

collaboration with regional and country offices and more than 100
collaborating centres around the world and through combined action in
education, social welfare, justice, rural development, women’s affairs. We Human resources and
ensure that our policies and interventions are evidence-based and reflect training in mental hea
our commitment to equity, ethics, human rights and gender equality. [pdf 636KB]

MENTAL HEALTH GLOBAL ACTION PROGRAMME (MHGAP)

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MENTAL HEALTH GLOBAL ACTION PROGRAMME (MHGAP)

Mental Health Policy,
mental health Global Action Programme Plans and Programmes
Update [pdf 448KB]
RELATED STORIES

- For more information, please refer to the list of publications.

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Investing
Health [pdf 1.60MB]

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1.54MB]

Versión espa
1.61MB]

News from the

Department
MH Newsletter Octobe
2005 [pdf 129KB]

Mental health
publications
Download
below or order from th
WHO bookshop
List of mental health
publications
WHO Bookshop

Links to related site

Links to related sites

Contact us
Contact the Mental
Health programme

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