Better Mental Health Care

Abstract

A concise guide to establishing, developing and evaluating modern mental health services, providing the relevant evidence to support necessary choices between alternative models of care. It includes a step-by-step guide to what to do and how to do it, taking into account the needs of people with mental illnesses in the general population, the available resources, and the main policy requirements. It also gives readers practical resources to assist them in their role in establishing and developing mental health services with examples of best practice taken from countries world-wide. In addition, key relevant issues such as international agreements on human rights and guidelines on best practice to reduce stigma and discrimination are explained.

A new mental health strategy for England

“…12 The early indications here are not auspicious, and the reader is given fair warning in the initial "reader box" document description, which states that the "action required" and "timing" are "N/A," and it is not clear whether this means not available or not applicable. Indeed, the only financial undertaking given in the whole strategy is that for the IAPT programme.…”

Are community mental health services relevant in low- and middle-income countries?

“…We have recently argued, based upon a thorough review of the literature, that in low, middle and highincome countries and settings a balance is required between investment in community-based and hospitalbased mental health services (Thornicroft & Tansella, 2009, 2013a, b, Thornicroft et al 2013, 2011a, 2011b. Is this view supported by leading mental health experts working in those low-income settings, where over three-quarters of the world's population lives?…”

Cooperar para innovar

“…Hay que conseguir integrar servicios y ponerlos al alcance de nuestros pacientes. La mejor manera de salvar nuestro sistema sanitario público es organizar toda la atención desde la perspectiva de los usuarios y estructurar programas y servicios en torno a ellos, sus necesidades y las de sus familias (1). La competencia individualista es cara y poco resolutiva.…”