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| published in: World Health Organization / European
Commission: "Balancing mental health promotion and mental
health care: a joint World Health Organization / European
Commission meeting", Broschure MNH/NAM/99.2, Brussels:
World Health Organization 1999, pp. 9-10 |
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Conclusions of "Balancing Mental Health Promotion
and Mental Health Care: A Joint World Health Organization / European
Commission Meeting"
Brussels, 22-24 April 1999
"There is No Health Without Mental Health"
Mental health promotion and mental health care are complementary
parts of the spectrum of necessary interventions to achieve good
mental health outcomes for the population. Both approaches are
essential elements of a comprehensive mental health strategy and
a balance should be realized between them, stressing an intersectoral
and a multi-disciplinary approach.
This balance will be based on historical, cultural, structural
[including availability of health and social services] and ethical
factors and conditions, and made at the appropriate level in each
context. Actions should be based on the best available knowledge
or evidence, and continuously evaluated.
The following nine key principles are central to mental health
promotion and to mental health care: personal autonomy, sustainability,
effectiveness, accessibility, comprehensiveness, equity, accountability,
coordination, and efficiency.
Common goals and strategies to advance mental health promotion
and care include:
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Enhancing the visibility and improving recognition of the
value of mental health, including at the political level
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Increasing the interchange of knowledge and experience on
mental health and the transmission of mental health information
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Developing innovative and comprehensive, explicit mental
health policies in consultation with all stakeholders, including
users and carers, and respecting NGO and citizen contributions
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Defining priorities regarding settings, target groups, and
target conditions for activities and interventions in mental
health promotion, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention
and prevention of mortality (e.g. families, schools, workplaces,
prisons, neighbourhoods, social services, primary and specialist
care)
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Development of primary care and specialized mental health
services focusing on quality of care and the development of
new non-stigmatizing and self-help approaches
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Tackling inequity in health by giving special attention
to the mental health promotion and care needs of marginalized,
deprived and socially excluded groups, taking account of the
serious social changes and upheavals currently occurring in
many countries of the European region of the WHO, in particular
in the newly emerging democracies.
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Developing evidence-based guidelines for mental health promotion,
primary and secondary care, including rehabilitation and community-based
interventions
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Developing a human resource strategy and emphasizing continuing
professional development (life long learning and training)
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Highlighting research and development, establishing mental
health information and monitoring systems, including systems
to assess the prevalence, cost and needs of mental health
and outcomes of intervention
-
Development of mental health legislation based on human
rights, emphasising freedom of choice, and the importance
of appropriate confidentiality
The participants expressed the wish that European Commission and
World Health Organization focus upon these priority issues in the
framework of their respective programmes, and as a basis to explore
avenues for joint actions. It is also expected that all European
countries will pay adequate attention to the priority issues identified
by the meeting. The priorities will be discussed further in the
European Conference on Promotion of Mental Health and Social Inclusion,
which will be organised by the Finnish Presidency of the European
Union, to take place in Tampere, Finland in October 1999, and taken
into account in context of the WHO initiative "Nations for
Mental Health".
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