APPG Mental Health for Sustainable Development Report
APPG Mental Health for Sustainable Development Report
APPG Mental Health for Sustainable Development Report
This Mental Health report was published by the Global Health and Mental Health All-Party Parliamentary groups, and was prepared by Mary De Silva and Jonty Roland on the joint groups behalf.
The simple message of this report is that progress in development will not be made without improvements in mental health. The reasons are equally straightforward. Mental illnesses cause more disability than any other
health condition; bring enormous pain and suffering to individuals and their families and communities; and can lead to early death, human rights abuses and damage to the economy. Improving mental health is therefore a vital part of a successful development programme. Yet mental health is generally given a very low priority – and often neglected altogether - in both national and international policy.
The UK government can give a powerful lead to correct this through DFID and its work with other international bodies; however, it also needs to develop its own policies and practices to give mental health greater priority and, crucially, parity with physical health. Mental health needs to move from being an afterthought to an essential part of social policy, health system strengthening and health improvement
Content
Recommendations
Why mental health matters globally
What solutions exist?
Improving mental health globally
The UK’s current contribution to global mental health
This resource is also available for download in Cross Cutting Component 1 ‘Advocate, Coordinate & Network' of International Medical Corps’ “Mental Health Integration Toolkit”. The Toolkit aims to increase the understanding of integrated mental health programs in humanitarian settings, and provides valuable guidance for better resource allocation and implementation of the steps and components of Mental Health Integration