WHO/Europe pursues five priorities in mental health:
- the well-being of the population by supporting activities that promote mental well-being and prevent mental disorders;
- empowering service users and carers so that services can meet their needs, aspirations and experiences;
- the development of services, particularly community-based practices in middle- and low-income countries, where services are traditionally provided in large psychiatric facilities;
- the state of care for people with intellectual disabilities in Europe, focusing on the conditions of people with intellectual disabilities and long-term mental health problems, who too often live in unacceptable circumstances, and on the development of family support and community services; And
- quality information, because it is often lacking.
Much is now known about what works in mental health promotion, prevention, care and treatment. The challenge now is to implement this knowledge.
Services and practice do not always reflect knowledge of what works in mental health care and treatment. Many countries have limited community mental health services and little specialist support for young or older people.
Many people placed in large psychiatric institutions face neglect and human rights violations, resulting in high mortality rates. Stigma and prejudice are widespread and affect all aspects of mental health, including whether people seek and receive help.
