Prevention and promotion of mental illness

1. Prevention of
Mental Illness
Prepared by: Dr. Mohammad Naser Feroz

2. General View
• Mental and behavioral disorders are not exclusive to any special
group: they are found in people of all regions, all countries and
all societies.
• About 450 million people suffer from mental disorders according
to estimates given in (WHO, 2001).
• 1 in 4 will develop one or more mental or behavioral disorders
during their lifetime (WHO, 2001).
• 1 in 5 of teenagers under the age of 18 years suffer from
developmental, emotional or behavioral problems (WHO, 2001).
• 1 in 8 has a mental disorder (WHO, 2001).

3. • Mental and neurological disorders account for 13% of the total
Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost due to all diseases and
injuries in the world (WHO, 2004).
• 5 of the 10 leading causes of disability worldwide are psychiatric
conditions, including depression, alcohol use, schizophrenia and
compulsive disorder (Murray & Lopez, 1996).
• Projections estimate that by the year 2020 neuropsychiatric
conditions will account for 15% of disability worldwide, with
unipolar depression alone accounting for 5.7% of DALYs.
General View

4. To reduce the health, social and economic
burdens of mental disorders it is essential that
countries and regions pay greater attention to
prevention and promotion in mental health.
General View

5. Mental Health Promotion
• The process of enabling individuals and communities to
increase control over the determinants of health and thereby
improve their health (Ottawa Charter 1999).
• Prevention of mental disorders can be considered one of the
aims and outcomes of a broader mental health promotion
strategy (Hosman & Jané-Llopis 1999).

6. Public health definition of mental
disorder prevention
Prevention is the reduction of mental disorders
and behavioral problems by Identifying risk and
protective factors, and Applying evidence-based
interventions.
Evidence-based interventions use a continuum
of integrated policies, strategies, activities and
services whose effectiveness has been proven or
informed by research and evaluation.

7. Mental disorder prevention Aims
“reducing incidence, prevalence, recurrence of mental
disorders, the time spent with symptoms, or the risk condition
for a mental illness, preventing or delaying recurrences and also
decreasing the impact of illness in the affected person, their
families and the society”
(Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994)

8. Level Of Mental Illness Prevention
• Universal Level Prevention
• Selective Level Prevention
• Indicated Level Prevention

9. Definitions of universal, selective and
indicated prevention
Universal prevention is defined as targeting the whole
population group.
Ex: Prevention of marital distress and divorce
(Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994, pp. 22–24)

10. Definitions of universal, selective and
indicated prevention
Selective prevention targets individuals or subgroups of the
population whose risk of developing a mental disorder is
significantly higher than average, as evidenced by biological,
psychological or social risk factors.
Ex: Prevention of alcohol abuse among college students
(Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994, pp. 22–24)

11. Definitions of universal, selective and
indicated prevention
Indicated prevention define as targeting persons at high-risk
for mental disorder.
Ex: Delaying or preventing the onset of schizophrenia
(Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994, pp. 22–24)

12. Kinds of Prevention
The Institute of Medicine Report (Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994) has
proposed a framework of mental health intervention for mental
disorders based on the classification of the prevention of Mental
illness.
• Primary Prevention
• Secondary Prevention
• Tertiary prevention

13. Primary Prevention
• Reduction of the incidence of a Mental disorder
• Reducing emergence of new cases of mental illness
Ex:
• Prevention of damage to the brain in childhood
• Treatment and prevention of brain infections
• Improving nutrition
• Suicide awareness

14. Secondary Prevention
• Reduction of the Prevalence of Mental disorder.
Early identification and treatment of mental illness and of social
and emotional disturbances
Ex:
• Establishment of family service agencies
• MH centers
• Integration of MH with PHC
• Availability of mental health services at rural and urban areas
(schools, universities, industry)

15. Tertiary Prevention
• Tertiary prevention includes interventions that reduce
disability, enhance rehabilitation and prevent relapses and
recurrences of the illness
Ex:
• Mental health rehabilitation services
• Vocational training
• Employment opportunities

16. Strategies for Preventing of Mental
Illness
1. Community Education
2. Early Intervention Services
3. Community Resources Development
4. Improving accessibility
5. Improving Cultural Sensitivity
6. Enhanced Protective Factors in the Environment

17. Strategies for Preventing of Mental
Illness
•Community Education
• Educate all individuals in the community about the
effectiveness and social, economic benefits of prevention
• Improved productivity
• Improved energy and mood
• Improved relationship and etc…

18. Strategies for Preventing of Mental
Illness
•Early Intervention Services
• Speech and language services
• Physical or occupational services
• Psychological services
• Medical, nursing, or nutrition services
• Hearing (audiology) or vision services
• Social work services

19. Strategies for Preventing of Mental
Illness
•Community Resources Development
• Volunteers based at the health department, libraries, doctors
offices…
• Workforce development force
• Jobs
• Transportation
• Child care before and after school
• Financial Management
• Domestic violence awareness/ prevention

20. Strategies for Preventing of Mental
Illness
•Improving Accessibility
• Library workshops, reading area
• Doctor/ dentist
• Health education curriculum
• Online videos, pdf
• Television / radio news
• Before and after school programs (nutrition, Wellness)

21. Strategies for Preventing of Mental
Illness
•Improving Cultural Sensitivity
• Children
• Young adult
• Older adults
• Race/ Ethnicity
• Religion
• disability

22. Strategies for Preventing of Mental
Illness
•Enhanced Protective Factors in the Environment
• Conflict‫شخړو‬ management skills
• Stress management skills
• Social skills

23. Many Many Thanks From
Your
Attention