IslamOnline.net
is encouraging its audience to partake in a World Health Organization project to
give prominence to successful community-based psychosocial rehabilitation
services.
“These
rehabilitation services represent an alternative to psychiatric hospitals, and
aim to provide local care to people with severe mental health disorders,
including medication, psychological support, and rehabilitation activities,”
said the WHO press release.
According
to WHO estimates, approximately 450 million people worldwide are affected by
mental disorders.
The
World Health Organization and IslamOnline.net are interested in hearing
about community-based psychosocial rehabilitation projects that have worked well
and about those which have not been successful. During the first phase of
the WHO project, WHO encourages individuals, families, members of professional,
healthcare and non-governmental organizations, and mental health representatives
and providers around the world to write about their range of experiences.
As
part of IslamOnline.net’s efforts to encourage this project, we will be
accepting articles – up till August 30 – to be forwarded on to the WHO
project with the added benefit of having them posted on IslamOnline.net.
Articles should be no longer than 1500 words. In order for the article to be
forwarded to the WHO, it must be accompanied by a shortened 500 word version.
Articles should be specifically about projects related to mental health
rehabilitation. Articles from developing countries and from Islamic countries
are highly encouraged.
Please
include the following information (according to WHO guidelines) in your
submissions:
Description
of services before the shift to community-based mental health rehabilitation;
Description
of what happened;
Description
of the mental health system after the shift;
Lessons
learned.
The
shifts described can be from any time period between 1980 and 2005.
WHO
will publish selected submissions in a report that will highlight issues,
concerns and successful projects in developing community psychosocial
rehabilitation services. This document will be of critical importance for
WHO, and for countries to help providers, families and individuals develop
plans to make a successful shift. An international conference will be planned in
the future as a part of this project.
To
submit a report directly to the World Health Organization, send a 500 word
report before September 30 by e-mail to:
or
by regular mail to:
Department
of Mental Health and Substance Abuse,
World
Health Organization,
20,
Avenue Appia, Ch-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
