Significance of mental health legislation for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health services: A review.

Getinet Ayano

doi:10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1429

Abstract

BackgroundMental health legislation (MHL) is required to ensure a regulatory framework for mental health services and other providers of treatment and care, and to ensure that the public and people with a mental illness are afforded protection from the often-devastating consequences of mental illness.AimsTo provide an overview of evidence on the significance of MHL for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health servicesMethodA qualitative review of the literature on the significance of MHL for successful primary care for mental health and community mental health services was conducted.ResultsIn many countries, especially in those who have no MHL, people do not have access to basic mental health care and treatment they require. One of the major aims of MHL is that all people with mental disorders should be provided with treatment based on the integration of mental health care services into the primary healthcare (PHC). In addition, MHL plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, the provision of care of high quality, the improvement of access to care at community level. Community-based mental health care further improves access to mental healthcare within the city, to have better health and mental health outcomes, and better quality of life, increase acceptability, reduce associated social stigma and human rights abuse, prevent chronicity and physical health comorbidity will likely to be detected early and managed.ConclusionMental health legislation plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, integration of mental health at primary health care, the provision of care of high quality and the improvement of access to care at community level. It is vital and essential to have MHL for every country.

Highlights

Mental health legislation (MHL) is required to ensure a regulatory framework for mental health services and other providers of treatment and care, and to ensure that the public and people with a mental illness are afforded protection from the often-devastating consequences of mental illness
The absence of community-based mental health care means the only care available is in psychiatric institutions, which are associated with gross human rights violations including inhuman and degrading treatment and living conditions
The aim of this study is to provide an overview of evidence in order to inform potential policy makers and direct researchers that the presence of MHLs plays a crucial role in community integration of persons with mental disorders, integration of mental health at primary health care, the provision of care of high quality and the improvement of access to care at community level

Summary

Introduction

Mental health legislation (MHL) is required to ensure a regulatory framework for mental health services and other providers of treatment and care, and to ensure that the public and people with a mental illness are afforded protection from the often-devastating consequences of mental illness. About 14% of the global burden of disease is explained by mental disorders; mostly chronically disabling illness, depression and other common mental disorders such as psychosis[1,2] and this will rise to 15% by the year 2020. Without the effects of premature mortality, the impact of neuropsychiatric conditions is starker still: they account for 31% of all years lived with disability. All people with mental disorders have the right to receive high-quality treatment and care delivered through responsive health care services. They should be protected against any form of inhuman treatment and discrimination.[4]. Mental health legislation (MHL) is required to ensure a regulatory framework for mental health services and other providers of treatment and care, and to ensure that the public and people with a mental illness are afforded protection from the often devastating consequences of mental illness.[4,5]

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