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Community & Health Studies
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Non-Profit Management
Stepping
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MBA in Community Economic Development
Cape Breton University
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MENTAL HEALTH
$5/ year per person can
treat
mental illness in developing world
More than 75% of people suffering from mental disorders in the
developing world receive no treatment or care. A new WHO programme highlights
the huge treatment gap for a number of mental, neurological and substance use
disorders. Across Africa for example, nine out of ten people suffering from
epilepsy go untreated, unable to access simple and inexpensive anticonvulsant
drugs which cost less than US$5 a year per person.
The programme, Mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP): Scaling up
care for mental, neurological and substance use disorders asserts that with
proper care, psychosocial assistance and medication, tens of millions could be
treated for diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, and epilepsy and begin
to lead healthy lives, even where resources are scarce.
A WHO statement points out that, “Across Africa for example, nine out
of ten people suffering from epilepsy go untreated, unable to access simple and
inexpensive anticonvulsant drugs which cost less than US$5 a year per person.”
An epilepsy project in China which integrates a model of epilepsy control
into local health systems achieved excellent results. This confirms that
epilepsy could be treated with an inexpensive anti-convulsant medicine by health
professionals who had undergone basic training. The project which started in six
provinces has now been extended to 15 provinces and tens of thousands of
sufferers have been treated.
A study conducted by WHO showed that in low-income countries, scaling up
a package of essential interventions for three mental disorders –
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression – and for one risk factor –
hazardous alcohol use – requires an additional investment as low as $US 0.20
per person per year.
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Project Atlas of the Department of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse is designed to collect, compile and
disseminate data on mental health and neurology resources in the world.
Resources include policies, programmes, financing, services,
professionals, treatment and medicines, information systems and related
organizations. These resources are necessary to provide services and care
for people with mental, behavioural and neurological diseases/disorders.
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Cocaine use down in US and painkillers up
Cocaine use among young adults in the United States fell 23 percent last
year, and more are getting high on painkillers that can be fund in found in the
medicine cabinets at home, a U.S. government said in an annual report.
Over five years, the share of young
adults taking prescription drugs for non-medical purposes increased 12 percent.
At the same time the prices of cocaine rose by 21% in 2007.
The federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration also reports
• Illicit drug use among
those 55 to 59 more than doubled, to 4.1 percent in 2007
• Among l people ages 12
and older, marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug last year, abet
14.4 million Americans.
• Heroin was the
least popular illegal drug, used by 153,000 people, down from 338,000 the
previous year
• Abuse of the illegal stimulant methamphetamine also fell last year among
young adults, those ages 18 to 25.
Being depressed was
linked to use of illicit drugs, with adults who experienced a major depressive
episode being more than twice as likely as others to have used drugs, the survey
found.
The survey of
67,870 people was done through interviews. More
on the report
Federal
government adds to
mental health commission mandate
The federal government extended the mandate of
the Canadian Mental Health Commission to 10 years and added $130 million over
its mandate, Health Minister Tony Clement.
Former
Senator Michael Kirby, Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada responded
favourably. "For far too long, mental health has not received the attention
it deserves in this country,” he said. The announcement also received applause
from the Canadian Mental Health association.
The Commission aims to conduct a 10-year anti-stigma campaign, build a
pan-Canadian Knowledge Exchange Centre, and elaborate a national mental health
strategy for Canada.
The federal government of Canada also committed an additional $110
million to the Mental Health Commission of Canada for research projects to help
Canadians with mental illness that are homeless. The Commission will set up five
demonstration research projects across Canada. The sites that have been selected
are: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Moncton.
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/media
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