On the occasion of the World Health Day on Mental Health
7 April 2001
The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the 7th of April as the World
Health Day. I commend WHO for a very acute theme this year "mental health and
the fight against stigmatisation caused by mental health problems". Indeed we
must "Stop Exclusion and Dare to Care".
Mental health problems occur everywhere in the world. It has been estimated
that twenty percent of the population suffers from mental disorders, and therefore,
mental ill-health holds a central position in the global burden of disease.
The estimated number of suicides in the world is one million yearly. In many
countries suicide is the leading cause of death among young men. People with
mental health problems have increased morbidity and mortality from physical
illness as well.
Consequently, mental health problems add to health expenditures and contribute
to disability, mortality loss of economic productivity, poverty and low quality
of life. We should not underestimate the social burden of mental health problems
on individuals, families and communities. The social burden has significant
effects. Stigmatization caused by mental health problems and failures of the
health systems in providing appropriate care, has led and is leading to severe
violations of basic human rights.
Yet, too often mental health comes second to physical health. We must empower
the health systems to respond to mental health needs, and we must develop our
societies so that they are conducive to issues concerning mental health. I agree
with the Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundlandt,
who in her message on the World Health Day encourages us to "take stock and
advocate for policy changes on the one hand and attitude changes on the other".
Indeed, today's leaders are accountable to future generations, and we must now
pave the way for sustainable development also in mental health. The European
Union's health ministers adopted recently a resolution on mental health, which
states that "there is no health without mental health". Positive mental
health is a prerequisite for the well-being of the individual - it is the basic
social capital for the nation and needs to be reflected in national health policies.
In my capacity of spokesperson of the member states of the United Nations, I
wish to draw attention to global matters affecting mental health. Peace, and
freedom from conflict, indeed, is an important determinant also of mental health.
Poverty and ill-health go together. Thus, combating poverty by all available
means is equivalent to fighting for better mental health also.
I should like to congratulate the WHO for making an explicit commitment to mental
health and providing worldwide leadership and new momentum in this issue of
utmost importance to all of us.