WHO Guidance on Community Mental Health Scheme

 This is a guiding document of WHO that draws upon model that are successful in different countries ( including three successful model from India & 21 other countries ). This document seeks to promote person centric rights based approach & provides for  adoption of good practices from around the world.

CARE + SUPPORT ----> RIGHTS + PARTICIPATION

It provides for wide range of care services including:

  • Crisis emergency services
  • Peer to peer support
  • Supported living
  • Certified healthcare & rehabilitating facility
  • Community outreach
  • Hospital based services.
  • Creates linkages with :  housing, education, employment, other social sectors.
It provides examples of integrated national & regional networks of community based mental healthcare system which in turn can be adopted by the countries around the world. It focuses on global human rights standards but also aligns with the UN Convention on rights of person with certain disabilities Non-coercive care model that is not only responsive but also promotes recovery by connecting the mentally ill people with connectivity based networks which focuses on counseling & therapy to address their distress along with provision for social care benefits.


WHY IS THIS NEEDED?

According to WHO reports, 15%  of the total healthcare conditions around the world is related to mental illness. India alone accounts for one of the largest population of people suffering from mental illness ranging from depression & anxiety even severe conditions like schizophrenia.
Economic loses due to mental health conditions stands at around $ 1 trillion & the main cause o such an alarming situation is the lack of understanding & lack of awareness & sensitivity towards dealing with people facing mental health issues.

Our society continues to hold prejudice against mentally ill patients and there is still a stigma associated  with mental illness. This leads to the 'othering' of mentally ill people & the entire system end up treating them as the 'other' categories; later the patients are pushed coercive care, which not only violates their dignity but also violates their human rights. This results the system treating them as savages and lunatics.


BEST PRACTICES
  • Finland model : Adoption of  'open dialogue' , under this the patients are brought together with therapists & through a community peer to peer model the participants are encouraged to freely engage in exchange of ideas which create an open & friendly model leading to de-escalation of their distress.

  • Community outreach services from India : Atmiyata, is a community volunteer service that identifies and supports people experiencing distress in rural communities of Gujarat state in western India. Volunteers have the following roles: to raise awareness in the community about mental health issues; to identify individuals experiencing distress and provide 4-6 sessions of counselling; to refer people who may have a severe mental health condition to the  public  mental health service; and to support people in need with access to social care benefits.

  

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