[EQ] Mental health and development: targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group

Mental health and development:
targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group

World Health Organization, 2010

Available online at: http://bit.ly/bX06oS  

The new WHO report on mental health and development is a call to action to all development stakeholders - governments, civil society, multilateral agencies, bilateral agencies, global partnerships, private foundations, academic and research institutions - to focus their attention on mental health.

The report presents compelling evidence that persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities are a vulnerable group but continue to be marginalized in terms of development aid and government attention. It makes the case for reaching out to this group through the design and implementation of appropriate policies and programmes and through the inclusion of mental health interventions into broader poverty reduction and development strategies. The report also describes a number of key interventions which can provide a starting point for these efforts. By investing in persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities, development outcomes can be improved.

Content

Executive summary
1. Introduction
2. People with mental health conditions comprise a vulnerable group

2.1 What makes groups vulnerable?.

2.2 People with mental health conditions are subject to stigma and discrimination.

2.3 People with mental health conditions are subject to violence and abuse

2.4 People with mental health conditions experience restrictions in the exercise of their civil and political rights

2.5 People with mental health conditions are not allowed to participate fully in society

2.6 People with mental health conditions lack access to health and social services.

2.7 People with mental health conditions lack access to emergency relief services.

2.8 People with mental health conditions lack educational opportunities and have poorer educational outcomes

2.9 People with mental health conditions are denied employment and other income-generating opportunities..

2.10 People with mental health conditions experience substantial disability and premature death

3. Other vulnerable groups have high rates of mental health conditions
4. Improving development outcomes: principles and actions
5. All development stakeholders have important roles to play
Conclusion..

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