Dear Friends, Peace be upon you. Every year, there is a World Day Against Substance Abuse and Alcohol Abuse. Its topic this year (26 June 2000) was “Facing reality – denial, corruption and violence.” Alcohol, if abused, can have tremendous consequences, although it is legally available while narcotics are not. Infants and children can face…
Dear Friends, Recent research has shown clearly how serious it is to neglect mental health in the workplace. Job burnout is costing nations billions of dollars, according to results presented at the conference and Symposium held at the ILO on 9-10 October. Two major UN agencies, the ILO and WHO, supported the Symposium. Mental Health…
Photo credit: Pekka Elomaa I have often, on different occasions, tried to find out from people what things are really important in their lives. Usually they reply by talking about an exceptional situation – either good or bad – that they have experienced. They seldom say that the highlight is an ordinary situation, perhaps something…
New Zealand The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand celebrated World Mental Health Day as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. The Mental Health Commission publicized the theme of human rights, with particular attention to the stigma and discrimination often experienced by consumers of mental health services.
Eastern Mediterranean Eastern Mediterranean Regional Council (EMRC) The Regional Council has redesigned and expanded its internetsite, which can be found at www.e-wtc.com/emrc/ Egypt The EMRC/WFMH is participating in a national campaign toprevent violent behavior. It is led by the Social Work Department of theEducation Ministry. The EMRC arranged part of a training program forschool social…
North AmericaUnited States Bernard S. Arons, M.D., Director of the Center for Mental HealthServices in the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA),was given a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the InternationalAssociation of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (IAPRS) at its 1998conference in Florida. Dr. Arons has served as director of the Center forMental HealthServices since 1993….
Malaysia In Perak the Society for the Promotion of Mental Health incorporated World Mental Health Day into a month of activities promoting mental health awareness. The Second Mental Health Convention was held in Ipoh on 8-9 October on the theme of “Mental Health – A Time for Reflection.” The ruler of the State of Perak,…
Namibia Antonia Kangumine of the Ministry of Health and Social Services wrote from Windhoek that mental health care in her country was in a developing stage, and that the Ministry was considering the World Mental Health Day kit’s material on the protection of persons with mental illness. She added that to mark the Day “people…
Nepal Maryknoll Aasha Deep sponsored a variety of endeavors, including street plays, distribution of posters and pamphlets, and a talk program. Banners were widely displayed. A proclamation-signing event highlighted the activities.
India In Tamilnadu, the State Mental Health Authority and the Madras Medical College and Institute of Mental Health organized several events between 10 and 12 October. These included painting and public speaking competitions for school and college students on the theme of mental health and human rights. On 11 October a panel of professionals from…
