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Message from the President
Dear Friends,
International mental health concerns achieved a higher
profile in 2001 than for many years past. The World Health
Organization (WHO) focused attention on them as the subject
of its World Health Day on 7 April, and in its annual World
Health Report released on 4 October. This was only the second
time that mental health has been the subject of its annual
health awareness campaign. The World Federation for Mental
Health, recognizing the importance of this development and
many shared concerns, supported WHO’s special initiative
in its own activities during 2001.
Our campaign for World Mental Health Day takes place on
10 October every year. Many agencies and organizations arranged
programs of events spanning the period between 7 April and
10 October, with the release of the World Mental Health Report
providing an additional focus of attention. Some programs
continued to the end of 2001.
The terrible events of 11 September, followed by the war
in Afghanistan and by new tensions in the Middle East, also
spurred consideration of many issues from disaster management
to counseling for bereavement and post-traumatic stress disorder,
to ways of helping people cope with the long-term effects
of adversity. In the past year we have seen these matters
raised after man-made and natural disasters, in high-tech
workplaces and poor communities, in homes and in camps for
refugees and displaced persons.
The World Federation carried forward its efforts in many
areas. Major activities in 2001 are outlined in this report
under the four goals that define our work. These are: To
heighten public awareness about the importance of mental
health, and to gain understanding and improve attitudes about
mental disorders. To promote mental health and optimal functioning.
To prevent mental, neurological and psychosocial disorders.
To improve the care and treatment of those with mental, neurological
and psychosocial disorders.
During the year the nine Regional Vice Presidents, all
volunteers, participated in a wide variety of activities
to encourage local and regional interest in mental health,
and an active group of volunteer representatives pursued
advocacy at the United Nations. Our achievements derive from
our character as an international voluntary organization,
the essence of civil society, and from the support of our
individual members and the collaboration of like-minded associations.
As always, we are indebted to the donors who have given us
the means to pursue this work.
Best wishes,
Pirkko Lahti
WFMH President
back to 2001 Annual Report
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