2011年10月25日火曜日

Mental Health Japan WHO Statement

http://www.france24.com/en/20111024-use-japan-nuke-disaster-reform-mental-health-system-who

Use Japan nuke disaster to reform mental health system: WHO
The World Health Organisation's logo is seen in Geneva in 2009. Japan should use a higher rate of mental health problems after the Fukushima nuclear accident to update outdated attitudes to depression in the country, a top health official said Monday.
The World Health Organisation's logo is seen in Geneva in 2009. Japan should use a higher rate of mental health problems after the Fukushima nuclear accident to update outdated attitudes to depression in the country, a top health official said Monday.
This DigitalGlobe handout image shows the earthquake and tsunami damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March 2011 in Japan. Japan should use a higher rate of mental health problems after the Fukushima nuclear accident to update outdated attitudes towards depression in the country, a top health official said Monday.
This DigitalGlobe handout image shows the earthquake and tsunami damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March 2011 in Japan. Japan should use a higher rate of mental health problems after the Fukushima nuclear accident to update outdated attitudes towards depression in the country, a top health official said Monday.

AFP - Japan should use a higher rate of mental health problems after the Fukushima nuclear accident to update outdated attitudes towards depression in the country, a top health official said Monday.

Speaking at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Shekhar Saxena, from the mental health division of the World Health Organisation, said the mental aspects of disasters tended to be ignored in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

"Mental health treatment is needed for almost everyone who is affected by the disaster," Saxena told a packed audience at the summit. "Unfortunately, some neglect occurred."

Officials have previously warned of an increase in depression cases in a country where this illness still carries a stigma largely overcome in the West.

It is only recently that urban areas of Japan have begun to tackle the taboo surrounding depression, a condition euphemistically known as "heart 'flu" in the country.

After a disaster such as the Fukushima accident, the prevalence of severe mental disorders, such as psychosis, increase from two to three percent of the population to three to four percent, said Saxena.

More mild mental disorders like depression increase from one in ten people to one in five, he added.

Treating such disorders is best done within the community rather than in medical institutions, he said, arguing for an overhaul of attitudes and the system in Japan.

"In Japan, mental health care is largely undertaken by specialised institutions whereas it is more effective if it is undertaken at a community level," he said.

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Andrew's reflection on this article:

Yes there is an opportunity in this still enfolding disaster to futher improve the movement towards community based health care which actually started here in Japan in the establishment of community based out-patient psychiatric clinics and adult mental health daycare centers outside of hospitals since the early 1980's. Some of the statements about mental health care here are somewhat cliched and stereotypical and some outdated and no longer true in Japan. However it is good to see international organizations and spokepersons, such as quoted from this WHO conference, moving towards helping we mental health professionals who have our work cut out for us for decades to come.

I most agree with the following comment:

"We recommend for Japan to utilise the opportunity presented by the disaster to actually change the system to make it more community-oriented."

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