Abstract
Today, depression is an important public health challenge in developing countries. This problem is not new, in 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) described depression as a major, worldwide cause of disability. Mental and behavioural disorders are estimated to account for 12% of the global burden of disease which affects approximately 450 million people.1 However, most countries allocate less than 1% of their total health expenditures to mental health budgets.2 Depression, along with other mental health disorders, has long been segregated and neglected. The elderly age group comprise a particularly vulnerable group as they often have multiple co-existing medical and psychological problems. Cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, hearing and visual impairments, depression, and infections such as tuberculosis are common problems in elderly populations.3 Depression is under treated in this age group,1 and perhaps particularly so because it is not yet perceived as a priority public health problem in developing countries.
Highlights
Today, depression is an important public health challenge in developing countries
Most countries allocate less than 1% of their total health expenditures to mental health budgets.[2]
Depression is under treated in this age group,[1] and perhaps so because it is not yet perceived as a priority public health problem in developing countries
Summary
Depression is an important public health challenge in developing countries. This problem is not new, in 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) described depression as a major, worldwide cause of disability. Government and geriatric health The government of India launched the “National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)” in 1982, emphasising the needs of the elderly, affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, depression and psychogeriatric disorders.[23,24] The NMHP failed to achieve any of its targets over the subsequent decades because it was started using the Bellary Model.
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