News

Finding the Way out of a Global Health Crisis

Media Release, Thursday 25 March 2004

As part of a campaign to help stem the growing incidence of mental health problems in developing countries, Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer will launch an “International Mental Health” teaching and learning package at the University of Melbourne tomorrow (Friday, March 26).

According to the Director of the University of Melbourne’s Centre for International Mental Health, Professor Harry Minas, neglect of mental health in developing and post-conflict countries, particularly in the Asian region, is at crisis point.

Speaking to visiting Fellows of the International Mental Health Leadership Program in Melbourne this week he said, “Of the ten leading causes of disability in the world today, five causes are forms of mental illness. Highest ranked is depression - the fourth most common cause of disability.”

Professor Minas told a group of psychiatrists from the Asian Pacific region, that “suicide alone accounts for 350,000 deaths each year in the Asian region, more than the number of people dying from car crashes or tuberculosis.”

“And yet the budget for mental health in many countries in the region is often less than 2% of the national health budget,” he said.

Professor Minas warned that recent terrorism fears added to the pressures people are already struggling with, such as epidemics of new infectious diseases, rapid social and economic change, mass movement of rural residents to urban mega-cities, and the ever-widening gap between rich and poor.

Professor Minas told the group that Australia can play an important role in dealing with this growing mental health problem.

“Regional governments are struggling to respond effectively to this mental health challenge. But we know that Australia can play a very constructive role in helping them to do so,” he said.

Professor Minas said the Centre for International Mental Health (CIMH) at the University of Melbourne would redouble its efforts to support psychiatrists and policy makers worldwide in tackling a massive regional health problem.

The Centre has created a CD/DVD collection, which is designed to be used as a teaching resource and to stimulate debate and action on mental health in the region. This collection, “Leadership in Mental Health”, will be launched tomorrow (Friday, March 26) by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer MP.

“Since the leadership program was established three years ago, our Fellows have really made a difference, sometimes in quite courageous and innovative ways, in improving the outlook for people with mental illness in the region,” Professor Minas said.

“But obviously, the pressure is on – quite literally – and we need to realise the vision we have to improve the lives of mentally ill people by encouraging governments to acknowledge that neglect of the mentally ill often results in serious abuse of their human rights.”

The International Mental Health Leadership Program is a joint initiative of the University of Melbourne and Harvard Medical School. Psychiatrists from 14 Asian Pacific countries, Australia, UK and the US have completed the program.

“We have a long way to go, but we feel we are starting to see some real results,” Professor Minas said. “It is particularly gratifying that an Australian institution has been able to take a lead in this critical area, and we are pleased and honoured that Mr. Downer has agreed to launch our teaching materials.”

Media Opportunity:

Media are invited to attend the launch by Mr. Downer, and meet the CIMH faculty and the International Mental Health Leadership fellows.

WHAT: Hon. Alexander Downer to launch “Leadership in Mental Health”

WHEN: Friday, March 26 at 8:45am

WHERE: Upper East Dining Room, University House, Professors Road, University of Melbourne

PARKING: Enter through Gate 1, Swanston Street and follow instructions.