KARACHI, Jan 14: The World Health Organization, in its annual Mental Health Report 2001, has recommended provision for “Human Behaviour Training Programme” at school levels, inculcating among students the tendencies to regard human value and sentiments.

The report also sought the inclusion of psychiatry treatment as an integral part of primary health care system in the developing countries.

Keeping in view the rise in the deteriorating mental health status of the Third World inhabitants, special stress was laid to train general physicians (GPs) in psychiatry with particular reference to depression and anxiety.

Stressing the importance of regular refresher courses for the GPs in essential skills of mental health, the report further suggested incorporating psychiatry in the medical curriculum at undergraduate levels.

“Initially at least 20pc of the entire medical curriculum be devoted to psychiatry,” the report said adding that ideally a separate paper in psychiatry be conducted during MBBS exams as only recently done in Sri Lankan.

Keeping in view the plight of psychiatric patients and to improve mental health status easy availability of psychotropic drugs was also stressed, with the caution that these, however, must not be made accessible over the counter.

Low cost and lesser side effects were also mentioned pre- requisite for these drugs.

Care for patients to be provided within the community, with particular reference to keep them in the family was also stressed. In this regard significance of involving the patients community and family in the regular therapy and rehabilitation process was also highlighted.

The governments of the developing countries were also urged to strengthen public health care system with particular reference to issuance of “health card” enabling the masses, particularly those from the lower economic strata, to seek free of cost drugs and quality medial intervention.—APP