Culture and Diversity in Member Care--Part 6

Global Mental Health: Issues and Interviews

Skina, aged 9, being treated for injuries from a cluster bomb.
It exploded while she and her cousins were playing with it.
Photo taken 20 August 2006. Courtesy IRIN.

Humans, close-up.

Contributing in new ways internationally.

Connecting in new ways intentionally.
Crossing sector/discipline zones.
Crossing conflict/calamity zones.
As a member care field.

As a member caregiver.

Humans, close-up.
*****

Spotlight:
"The Banyan is a not for profit organization based in Chennai, India. It works for the cause of homeless persons with mental illness. Over the last 13 years, The Banyan has rescued over 1500 women and enabled close to 1000 women, not just recover from the illness but to also trace their lost steps back to their families and communities." See the short video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THdLdJDc6go

*****

One helpful way to stay in touch with international health issues--and to stretch beyond our own cultural and disciplinary boundaries-- is via multimedia resources available on line. An example is the short interviews done with international researchers and practitioners in mental health and related areas, from Global Health TV. Have a look at some of these video links below from Global Health TV. Each one is about three minutes long.

We continue to encourage us all to provide and develop member care in light of the global health context and other important international issues. We find that it is helpful to stay connected with a health area and/or international issue that we are particularly passionate about (including organizations, practitioners, resources etc related to the area/issue). A byproduct is that we will probably enhance our understanding of cultural variation and human diversity and thus be more effective in member care.

Conference Preview for Geneva Health Forum 2010—Movement for Global Mental Health

Dr. Vikram Patel (author of Where There Is No Psychiatrist and editor of the Lancet journal series on Global Mental Health) gives a short update on some of the issues for mental health internationally and a preview of what he will share at the Geneva Health Forum next week.

http://www.globalhealthtv.com/#/news/preview_geneva_health_forum_2010/

The Global Burden of Depression

According to the World Health Organization, depression will be the leading cause of illness around the globe. Dr Ian McPherson from the National Mental Health Unit in England shares about the relationship between employment and mental health and the need to prioritise mental health in the global health agenda.

http://www.globalhealthtv.com/#/news/the_global_burden_of_depression/

Overcoming Global Oppression Against Women

Sheryl WuDunn is a Pulitzer prize-winning author .She shares about her new book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The material in the book can be used as a toolkit to take action against oppression.

http://www.globalhealthtv.com/#/news/overcoming_global_oppression_against_women/

Stress in the Womb

Prenatal stress can have a long-term consequences. Here is a snippet from Vivette Glover, a researcher at Imperial College London, who advocates that reducing stress during pregnancy could help prevent emotional and behavioural problems in children.
 http://www.globalhealthtv.com/#/news/stress_in_the_womb/

Global Mental Health
The Movement for Global Mental Health was launched in 2009 in Athens. Its purpose is to improve services for people with mental health conditions worldwide, promote human rights/protection of those affected, and for more research in low-middle income countries. Psychiatrist Professor Vikram Patel explains that mental health deserves an equal footing with other major health problems such as HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and maternal health.

http://www.globalhealthtv.com/#/news/global_mental_health/

Reflection and Discussion

1.What did you think of the Banyan video from Chennai, India?

2. Which of the four interviews above interested you the most and why?

3. What is an international health area and/or international issue that really interests you?

4. Briefly mention how you stay practically informed and connected to an international health area or international issue.

5. List three ways that member care workers and those with member care responsibility can benefit from staying connected to international health areas and international issues. 

Culture and Diversity in Member Care—Part 4

Well-Being for All

 Would you tell me the way to Somewhere…

There’s room from for us all in Somewhere…

The Somewhere meant for me.

Walter de la Mare

“Mental health is defined as a state of well-being
in which every individual realizes his or her own potential,
can cope with the normal stresses of life,
can work productively and fruitfully,
and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”
World Health Organization, October 2009
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/index.html

*****

Promoting the well-being of mission/aid workers is the major focus of member care. As we support workers with our services/resources we also vicariously support the people with whom they work. Some of these people, along with their friends, relatives, communities, and indeed nations are seriously affected by mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) these disorders “are common in all regions of the world, affecting every community and age group across all income countries. While 14% of the global burden of disease is attributed to these disorders, most of the people affected—75% in many low-income countries—do not have access to the treatment they need.” (WHO, launch of the mhGAP program, http://www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/en/index.html) In addition, “people with these disorders are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and increased mortality. These disorders are the cause of staggering economic and social costs.” (WHO Department of mental health, The Bare Facts http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/index.html)

Making Connnections

Is there a connection between member care, the international mental health field, and the emphasis on human diversity/cultural variation? You bet! One way to better support mission/aid workers via member care is by equipping all of us to better understand: a) how mental health issues affect the diversity of people with whom we all work and b) how a particular culture understands/deals with mental health issues. Sadly, in many cases there will be major misinformation, stigma, and lack of resources to help those who struggle with mental health. Mental health per se may also not be an important component of discipleship, church growth, relief care, human rights, or other emphases in mission/aid. It could be and should be. 

One practical way for those in member care to help is to connect with some of the core materials from organizations like WHO. For example, have a look through the WHO web site in the mental health area section. Much of it is designed to give people a quick grasp of the worldwide mental health situation.

Some suggestions:
1. Begin with these two multimedia items:

**A “photo fact file" which includes 10 pictures and some core statistics. http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/mental_health_facts/en/index.html

**Watch the five minute video about WHO’s 2008 mhGap program. This video gives a good overview of international mental health needs and makes a plea to work together to help people to promote mental health for all. There is no health without mental health! http://www.who.int/mental_health/mhgap/en/

2. Then have a look at:
**The Bare Facts is a  fact sheet on mental health statistics (e.g., an estimated 877,000 people commit suicide each year). http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/index.html

**Some core reflections on human rights, law, and mental health.
http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/fact_sheet_mnh_hr_leg_2105.pdf

3. For more detailed reviews and information:
**Links to special articles that review global mental health in the Lancet journal from the UK (2007).

http://www.thelancet.com/series/global-mental-health

**The Mental Health Atlas from 2005 which “provides essential information on mental health for 192 countries includes including epidemiology, mental health policy, substance abuse policy, national mental health programme…mental health facilities…and other relevant information.”

 http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/atlas/

One need not be a mental health professional to benefit from the information and resources listed on the WHO site! You will likely find the material to be practical for your own life and work in member care and mission/aid. Remember: an important part of respecting human diversity involves respecting people from all cultures who struggle with mental disorders. They especially are vulnerable and have rights to adequate care, opportunities, and well-being.

More Thoughts on Mental Health/Member Care

“Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by mental, behavioural, neurological and substance use disorders. For example, estimates made by WHO in 2002 showed that 154 million people globally suffer from depression and 25 million people from schizophrenia; 91 million people are affected by alcohol use disorders and 15 million by drug use disorders. A recently published WHO report shows that 50 million people suffer from epilepsy and 24 million from Alzheimer and other dementias.” (WHO, The Bare Facts, http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/index.html)

Mission/aid personnel are often in influential places where they can help make a difference. Greater awareness and some basic training about mental health issues especially in their setting/cultural context can be a great way to support their work with others. Member care workers themselves can also consider ways—new ways—to use their training to help make a difference in the diverse settings where mission/aid workers are located. There are plenty of national Christian workers (12 million) along with “foreign” mission workers (4000,000) who could be better supported and further trained to consider mental health issues in the ministry/work that they are doing. (stas from Johnson, Barrett, an Crossing, January 2010, International Bulletin of Missionary Research).

Reflection and Discussion--And Leave A Comment!

1. Respond to the rationale above that advocates for the increased involvement of the member care field in international mental health issues. For instance, is this a distraction, a specialized focus, a responsibility, an opportunity, etc? Are there any other rationales that are impportant to mention?

2. Briefly describe how linking member care and international mental health relates to respecting human diversity/cultural variation.

3. An emphasis on respecting human diversity and cultural variation may not always have a positive impact on the quality of member care that we provide mission/aid workers. How is this so? Give a couple examples.

4. What are some possible ways that you and your organizations could get better informed and practically involved in mental health as described above? What would you specifically like to do?

5. Which of the mental health materials on the WHO web site were the most helpful for you? How could you share these materials with others?