KARACHI, Nov 5: Despite the fact that mental health is as important as physical health to the overall well-being of individuals, societies and countries, yet only a minority of the 450 million people suffering from a mental or behavioural disorders are receiving treatment, a recently issued WHO report said.

It was stated that advances in neuro-sciences and behavioural medicine had shown that many physical illnesses, mental and behavioural disorders were the results of a complex interaction between biological, psychological and social factors.

These disorders effect more than 25 per cent of all people at sometime during their lives, the report stated, adding that they were universal, affecting people of all countries and societies, individuals at all ages; women and men, rich and poor, from rural and urban environments.

Ten per cent of the adult population present with mental health problems at some point in their lives, WHO sources claimed, mentioning that 20 per cent of patients seen by primary health care physicians were known to suffer from mental illness.

According to the WHO estimates, one in four families is likely to have at least one member with mental health problem. These families not only provide physical and emotional support to the patient, but also bear the impact of stigma and discrimination.

It was estimated that in 1990 mental and neurological disorders accounted for 10 per cent of the total manpower loss due to all diseases. Factors associated with the prevalence, onset and course of mental and behavioural disorders included poverty, sex, age, conflicts, disasters, major physical diseases, the family and social environment.

The government as the ultimate stewards of mental health need to set policies within the context of general health systems and financing arrangements that will protect and improve health of the population, WHO report submitted.

It was also suggested that policies should ensure the respect of human rights and take into account the needs of the vulnerable group, besides, shifting away from large psychiatric hospitals to community services that are integrated into general health services.

Drugs need to be available and the health workers should be trained, WHO suggested, mentioning that the mass media and public awareness campaigns could be effective in reducing stigma and discrimination.—APP