Year: 1997
Type: article
Abstract: Mental health is an essential part of the health and well-being of European citizens and very relevant also in the perspective of the economies of Member States.Awareness of the importance of the issues related to mental health has also appeared in recent decisions of the European Commission.The Commission, the European Parliament and the Council are now actively supporting the development of action in this field.The main aim of a discussion initiative on mental health promotion, the development of which is outlined in the report, will be to put mental health visibly on the European health policy agenda and to find ways of promoting it in practice.This is an appropriate time to seek out new possibilities of enhanced cooperation between Member States and with other international or European organisations working in the field of mental health.This is a demanding task and I hope that all European countries will join in the effort.Mental health is truly an essential part of our health and wellbeing and an important prerequisite for a viable, socially responsible and productive Europe. Jarkko Eskola, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Dpt for Prevention and PromotionMental health problems cause enormous subjective suffering for both the index patients, their families and other members of their social networksThe authors define mental health as an essential part of overall health.Mental health is not merely absence of mental disease or symptoms but also a resource supporting well-being and social integration and an essential potential for meaningful life.By the use of the expression mental health promotion a distinction is made between treatment on the one hand, and promotive activities on the other.Treatment focuses on pathological processes, promotive activities on the enhancement of skills, knowledge, social support and other resources.Mental health promotion can thus be seen as a set of activities directed at determinants of health and as an umbrella concept covering all efforts at enhancement and maintenance of mental health, including prevention of mental disorders and suicides.The objectives of mental health promotion can be situated at the individual, social and societal levels.Individual-oriented mental health promotion focuses on factors which enhance emotional resilience, favourable conditions for psychosocial development and life skills.The social objectives of promotive activities relate both to a persons capacity to deal with the social world and to recruitment of the support that can be provided by other people.Action on a societal level aims at developing methods and structures which enable people to participate in a common effort to improve the environment and other conditions of life.Promotive activities may be transnational, national, regional and focus upon different groups.Mental health promotion is carried out by different means, including policy, information or education.It can take place in different settings such as the home, day care, school, workplace and community.It is interested in people at different phases of the life span and in different life situations.Because preventive activities are covered by this umbrella concept it is evident that mental health promotion can also focus on risk groups, for example on people who suffer from acute or chronic stresses.This diversity and broad scope for action underlines the need for innovative approaches.Development of telematic systems supporting mental health promotion programmes are one example of possible future directions.
Authors: Ville Lehtinen, Eero Riikonen, Eero Lahtinen
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W576158075