World Mental Health Day Monday 10th October 2011

[TrueBlueTerrier]

30 September 2011
LTB 825/11- World Mental Health Day Monday 10th October 2011 - "The Great Push - Investing In Mental Health

No. 825/11
Ref P1
Date: 30 September 2011







To: All Branches


Dear Colleagues





World Mental Health Day Monday 10th October 2011 - "The Great Push - Investing In Mental Health"








World Mental Health Day was created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is supported by the United Nations (UN). It is held annually on 10 October to raise public awareness about mental health issues worldwide. The day will be organised with the help of the World Federation for Mental Health which was founded in 1948 to prevent emotional and mental health disorders and help those who do suffer from them.





The Day promotes more open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention and treatment services. The treatment gap for mental, neurological
and substance use disorders is formidable especially in poor resource countries. Physical and mental health are intertwined. There is a real need to deal with mental health problems of people with chronic physical illnesses and physical care of mental health consumers through a continued and integrated care. On the occasion of the World Mental Health Day, last year the WHO launched its Mental Health Gap Intervention Guide, see LTB 874/10 with the Month of October 2010 being the inception of the implementation phase as well.









Mental Health refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the mental well-being component included in the WHO's definition of health:
"A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease". It is related to the promotion of well-being, the prevention
of mental disorders, and the treatment and rehabilitation of people affected by mental disorders.






Mental disorders affect nearly 12 percent of the world’s population – about 450 million or one out of every four people around the world – will experience a mental illness that would benefit from diagnosis and treatment. WHO statistics show that 154 million people globally suffered from depression, which is a form of mental illness. So it's likely that someone you know will be affected by mental illness during your lifetime. World Mental Health Day aims to get us all talking openly about mental illnesses and the treatment and preventions that are available to us all. Depression, including among young people, is a major mental health problem. World Mental Health Day promotes the awareness of such issues.








According to WHO, mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which people realize their own potential, can cope with normal life stresses, can work productively, and can contribute to their community.






Mental health services lack human and financial resources in many countries, particularly low and middle income countries.





More funding is needed to promote mental health to increase people’s awareness of the issue. In response to making mental health a global priority, World Mental Health Day was first celebrated in 1992 as an initiative of the WFMH, which has members and contacts in more than 150 countries. Each year the UN, through WHO, actively participates in promoting this event.









The 2010 WHO report on mental health and development was 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 presented 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 people with mental and psychosocial disabilities, development outcomes can be improved.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) report on mental health and development - "Targeting people with mental health conditions as a vulnerable group" -
which was launched at the United Nations in New York is attached.




Also attached WHO Reports:-
- 'Mental Health and Chronic Physical Illnesses - The Need for Continued and Integrated Care'
- 'Promoting Mental Health - Concepts, Emerging Evidence, Practice'
- 'Mental Health - Gap Intervention Guide'






Events organised on the day include community workshops with talks from professionals to give you any advice.






World Mental Health Day is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which is the UN’s
directing and coordinating authority for health, supports this event. The Mental Health Foundation is another organisation that is proactive in promoting World
Mental Health Day. It is observed in more than 100 countries on October 10 through local, regional and national World Mental Health Day commemorative events and programs. This event promotes open discussions on illnesses, as well as investments in prevention and treatment services.





The Health, Safety & Environment Department will continue to support positive national and international Mental Health initiatives through and with organisations such as MHF, WHO, DWP/NHS, Mental Health Charities (MIND) providing information and resources, seek access to Mental Health Training provisions for Health and Safety Reps and First Aiders and discuss Mental Health provisions with employers through Employee Health Scheme provisions.




Yours Sincerely





Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[hans solo]

thats all very well but rm barstewards still gave me 1st stage warning for being off with work related stress and depression 1st class from mgmt they just dont get it

[Dorset Plodder]

A serious problem no jokes!.......But how do you think anyone with a serious (or even minor) mental illness would be able to work in this business environment? I understand that all businesses are encouraged by the Government to employ a certain percentage of disabled employees.

I don't believe this is a good enough company for anyone to work in that has any mental problems...if they have existing problems I'm sure they'd only be made worse. I also know many Posties that have developed Depression through the continued Harassment and Bullying from RM Management.