 |
 |
|
|
The notion of designating one week of the year to focus a spotlight on mental illness issues is beginning to prove popular well beyond the borders of the U.S., where Mental Illness Awareness Week has become a vital event for all segments of the mental health community.
Last October 10 to 16, psychiatrists and other advocates in Sri Lanka enjoyed the successful culmination of a campaign to convince that country's president and national mental health agency to designate such a week in their country.
The special week was timed to begin on the same day as the United Nations World Mental Health Day.
Sri Lankan psychiatrists were armed with statistics showing the dimensions of mental illness in that country, including that Sri Lanka has one of the world's highest rates of both suicide and alcohol consumption. They pointed out as well that 20 percent of general hospital patients, 24 percent of those visiting a family practitioner, and between 5 percent and 10 percent of the adult population suffer from "a significant" psychiatric disorder. In addition, data show that about 70,000 Sri Lankans suffer from schizophrenia.
Treating these cases of mental illness are just 32 psychiatrists, four clinical psychologists, and six psychiatric social workers, almost all of them based in the island nation's capital city, Colombo.
The Sri Lankan psychiatrists also cited evidence of a growing problem of child abuse and domestic violence as reasons why Sri Lanka needs to place more emphasis on the consequences of and treatment options for mental illnesses.
A coalition of government agencies and nongovernmental organizations held activities in most of the country's provinces. Among these programs were mass media initiatives, school-based educational efforts, and several directed specifically at police, armed forces members, and prison officials.
Psychiatrists and psychologists visited nursing homes and facilities for retarded individuals and provided free care. They also convened meetings to discuss ways for Sri Lanka's health system to better integrate mental health and primary care.