Vikram Patel - Why Mental Health Matters to Global Health (ASI 2012)

Global health is the new avatar for what we once called "international health" and, going back further in time, "tropical medicine". Global health stands out from its predecessors in three key respects: first, its priorities are determined by the science of the burden of disease; second, its driving philosophy is equity, i.e. justice and fairness in the distribution of health in society; and third, its scope is global, i.e. it concerns actions which can benefit the health of people globally.
This presentation will present evidence to make the case that mental health is not only relevant to global health in all these respects, but in fact lies at its very heart. The presentation will then address some key road-blocks to global efforts to improve access to care for people with mental disorders, in particular the grave shortage and iniquitous distribution of mental health specialist resources. New evidence from low resource settings is showing how task-sharing of mental health care with lay and community health workers is an effective model for delivery of evidence-based treatments for mental disorders. Armed with the knowledge that one can unpack complex mental health treatments, and train and support non-professionals to deliver them, perhaps the promise of mental health for all is realizable. In particular, we will need to empower those who are affected by mental disorders to assure their right to receive care that enables recovery and live a life of dignity. We can attain the lofty goal of "mental health for all" only if we involve all in the process.