Perhaps you may think it strange that Wales is encroaching onto a website dealing with issues in England. BUT. Mental Health in Primary Care cries out everywhere, especially in England, for (IMHO) a massive injection of attention and action. Its good to see Wales being so positive. Why not England
Well-being “Defining a vision, inspiring action”
In their St Vincent Declaration1, the World Health Organisation (WHO) drew attention to the great importance of diabetes and its impact on prolonged ill health and premature death. The WHO has now recognised that today mental ill health causes even greater levels of disability than diabetes and other chronic physical illnesses. In the WHO Helsinki Declaration2, European Ministers of Health acknowledged this importance and committed themselves to action.
The Ministers said
“We endorse the statement that there is no health without mental health. Mental Health is central to the human, social and economic capital of nations.”
Mental ill health is a major and growing health problem at all ages and in all cultures which causes early death and general ill health. This has an adverse impact on our society and economy, affecting us all either directly or indirectly.
Mental ill health increases mortality and morbidity and has associated complications at an individual and public health level that must be addressed appropriately if the aspiration of improved health and wellbeing for the people of Wales is to be realised. In addition to the poor chronic disease outcomes caused by associated mental ill health, the complications of obesity, addictive habits, medically unexplained symptoms, accidents, unemployment, debt, poverty, relationship and behavioural problems need to be recognised and tackled.
Wales has eight out of the ten poorest and most deprived health areas in the UK 4 and some of the poorest health in Europe 5. The connection between poor physical health and poor mental health cannot be ignored. Mental ill health is therefore a major economic issue in Wales. In addition to Designed for Life, Wales also requires a primary care mental health and wellbeing strategy if it is to achieve its aim of improving health and social care in 21st Century Wales.
A Time for Action:
ÒAdopting Welsh solutions to meet Welsh challengesÓ3
Wales must give formal recognition to the growing and widespread problems of mental ill health and its relationship to general ill health and deploy available resources to aid the recovery of body, mind and spirit.
It is within the power of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), working in partnership with health services, local government, the voluntary sector, business community and educational institutions to create conditions that will reduce the heavy burden of illness, sickness, stigma and premature death caused by mental ill health and to promote mental health and wellbeing.
Planning and strategies for the identification, management and prevention of mental ill health in Wales have already been formulated within the local, national and European context. The time has now come for action to be taken which is long overdue.
As individuals in Wales we all:
á Have a responsibility for our own and othersÕ mental health and wellbeing.
á Need to be able to develop the understanding and gain the skills so that we can recognise signs of mental ill health in others and ourselves.
á Need to be able to access services easily that will support recovery and empowerment, leading to the promotion of independence and to the facilitation of self-management and maintenance of mental health and wellbeing.
As members of society, the people of Wales must accept responsibility within their own communities, workplaces and families to address those relationship issues that impact on all aspects of our day-to-day lives.