Public Mental Health: A Way Forward for Health Delivery Systems

Abstract

Mental well-being is the state of mental health that allows people to cope with the stresses of life. Mental well-being also improves individual’s capabilities by adding remarkable value to day-to-day functioning. General health depends on good physical health, but mental health is also necessary to enhance life quality and the ability to handle life's ups and downs. Good mental health plays a significant part in improving physical wellbeing, enhancing social equalities and promoting healthy lifestyles. It is a pity that despite progress in understanding the impacts & consequences, and required service patterns for mental disorder, mental illnesses are still presenting an alarming challenge to global health. The WHO's 2022 report emphasizes how much importance people, communities, and governments should place on mental health and how all stakeholders in all sectors must match that value with dedication, participation, and investment.¹ Although mental health conditions contribute to millions of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs),^2,3 these get less attention from health systems getting approximately two percent or even less spending on healthcare by governments around the world. 

Mental well-being provides safeguards against unhealthy lifestyle choices and inequality in society. Nowadays, there are a lot of evidence-based strategies for managing mental illness and fostering mental wellness through prevention. Promoting mental wellbeing is an important social objective since it helps equitable society and healthy lifestyles. There is a consensus that mental health conditions contribute to the global burden of diseases, but the interventions to treat and prevent such conditions are not given due attention. The full scope of these issues must be brought to the attention of policymakers in order to increase funding for promotion & prevention of mental health disorders as a crucial part of health policies and professional training.