Photo by Chris Keulen
Dear friends,
In Santiago de Chile we will celebrate our commitment to mental health and develop our strategy for the coming millennium: a time for reflection as to what we have achieved and planning for what we need to do. It is also a time to thank the longstanding leader of WFMH, Eugene Brody, for his devoted and productive years of service.
The challenge, with his departure and the increasing expectations in the mental health community, is to maintain a sustainable and active WFMH. Our Long Range Planning, revitalized at the May Board meeting, will be a central part of the Santiago agenda. We need to increase our numbers, increase our partnerships, develop new programs and gain resources for the Secretariat and regions. Our programs in advocacy, public mental health, prevention and the World Bank are showing promise. We are on the way, but lagging in regional, mental health association and consumer development. We have asked Mary O’Mahony of the Irish Mental Health Association to lead a committee for developing mental health associations worldwide. The effort for Latin America will be initiated in Santiago. We hope that a similar stimulus will be given in the years ahead in Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia.
In June, I had the honor of being invited by President and Mrs Clinton and Vice-President and Mrs Gore to take part, as President of WFMH, in the White House Conference on Mental Health. The conference began with a breakfast at the White House, followed by symposia and work group meetings at Howard University.. The seriousness of this occasion was demonstrated by President Clinton, who announced a new mental and physical health parity regulation for federal workers’ health insurance plans. The day also included live TV and Internet coverage of a town meeting led by Al and Tipper Gore. We should all feel encouraged by this commitment to mental health by the United States’ First Families. I see it in part as a reflection of your efforts that have made mental health issues so visible worldwide, and on the political agenda of many nations.
I saw more evidence of your efforts to focus attention on important issues when I was on a recent mission to Bangkok related to preventing the sexual exploitation of children. I was inspired there by the power of our NGO partners. Again and again, in all the regions of the world, NGOs are doing the brunt of the work in mental health, trying to alleviate suffering and promoting well-being. It’s not just the motivation of our volunteer sectors which inspires; the high quality of the work is impressive.
In closing, I thank you for your commitment to WFMH during my term as President, and look forward to serving you as Secretary General.
Marten W. deVries