MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION, PROTECTION, AND CARE
Mental health promotion involves actions that improve psychological well-being and an environment that respects and protects basic civil, political, socio-economic and cultural rights, which are fundamental to mental health. Without these rights and the security and freedom they give, it would be difficult to maintain a high level of mental health.
WAYS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH
- early childhood interventions
- providing a stable environment that is sensitive to children's health and nutritional needs, and has protection from threats, opportunities for early learning, and interactions that are responsive, emotionally supportive and developmentally stimulating
- home visits for pregnant women
- programs that help children build social and emotional skills
- support to children
- child and youth development programmes
- life skills programmes
- socio-economic empowerment of women
- microcredit initiatives
- improving access to education
- social support for elderly persons
- community and day centres for the aged
- befriending initiatives
- programmes targeted at vulnerable people, including minorities, indigenous people, migrants and people affected by conflicts and disasters
- psycho-social interventions after disasters or other traumatic events
- mental health promotional activities in schools
- programmes involving supportive ecological changes in schools
- mental health interventions at work
- stress prevention programmes
- housing policies + improvement
- violence prevention programmes
- reducing violence in the community and home
- reducing availability of alcohol and access to arms
- community development programmes
- integrated rural development
- campaigns to change the culture of mental health
- promotion of the rights, opportunities and care of individuals with mental disorders
- anti-discrimination laws and campaigns
- poverty reduction and social protection for the poor
Interventions that are cost-effective, feasible, and affordable:
- treatment of depression with psychological treatment and antidepressant medicines (for moderate to severe cases)
- treatment of psychosis with antipsychotic medicines and psychosocial support
- taxation of alcoholic beverages and restriction of their availability and marketing