WHO simplifies cure of mental and neurological disorders

Millions of people with common but untreated, mental, neurological and matter use disorders can now benefit from new simplified diagnosis and treatment rule released today by the World Health Organization. The guidelines are designed to facilitate the management of depression, alcohol use disorders, epilepsy and other common mental disorders in the primary healthcare. The intervention guide extends competence in diagnosis and management to non-mental health specialists including doctors, nurses and other health providers.

The WHO estimates that more than 75 per cent of people with mental, neurological and substance use disorders - including nearly 95 million people with sadness and more than 25 million people with epilepsy - living in developing countries did not receive any treatment or care. Improvement in mental health services does not require complicated and expensive technologies. An estimated one in four people globally will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. In the majority of countries, less than two per cent of health funds are spent on mental health. As a result, a large majority of people with these disorders receive no care at all.

More than 60 Percent Of Afghans Suffer Stress and Mental Disorders

Scarred by decades of war, social problems and poverty, more than 60 percent of Afghans suffer from pressure disorders and mental health problems, officials warned Sunday. "This is a major problem," Suraya Dalil, Afghanistan's stand-in public health minister, told a ceremony in Kabul on World Mental Health Day.

"More than 60 percent of Afghans are suffering from stress disorders and mental problems."

The population of Afghanistan is estimated at roughly 28 million. "Extreme poverty, insecurity, violence and gender disparities are the major factors contributing to worsening mental health in Afghanistan." The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that more than 60 percent of Afghans, mostly women, suffered from psychosocial problems or mental disordersPublic health ministry spokesman Ghulam Sakhi Kargar Noryghli said the 60 percent estimate dated from a study passed out with the WHO in 2004.

"Since war has continued, poverty or economic problems have increased in some parts of the country. We believe that the number of those suffering from mental illnesses has increased and now it is more than 60 percent,"

WHO Takes Action for Millions with unprocessed Mental Disorders

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new simplified strategy to make it easier for health care professionals to recognize and take care of the millions of people with common, but untreated, mental, neurological and substance use disorders.

 

WHO estimates that more than 75 percent of people distress with mental, neurological and substance use disorders around the world don’t receive proper treatment or even minimal levels of care for those disorders. The programme will lead to nurses in Ethiopia recognizing people suffering with depression in their day to day work and providing psychosocial assistance.
 

WHO, in association with partners, will present technical support to countries to implement the guidelines. It has already started the program in the following six countries: Ethiopia, Jordan, Nigeria, Panama, Sierra Leone and Solomon Islands. Improvement in mental health services doesn’t require sophisticated and expensive technologies.

WHO Targets Poor Countries For action of Mental Illness

 The World Health Organization is introduction new guidelines to simplify the action of mental and neurological disorders. The World Health Organization estimates worldwide, more than 150 million people suffer from depression. About 125 million are precious by alcohol-use disorders and millions more suffer from diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's and other dementias.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan says people in poor countries miss out on care because it is generally believed that sophisticated and expensive technologies are essential in improving mental health.

"In other words, we face a misperception that mental health care is a luxury item, a comfort item on the health agenda ... It costs two dollars per person per year," Chan explained. "It is one of the best buys you can get. High profile disease always get the attention and mental disorders are disorders that people often do not talk about, brush aside, sweep under the carpet."