Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight program. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. It is not just the lack of disease or weakness.”
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This is how the World Health Organization defines health. The WHO believes that mental health is just as important as physical health. The mind is just as important as the body.
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The World Federation for Mental Health agrees. This group works to help people understand more about mental health. And they help support people who suffer from mental health disorders or problems. Since 1992, they have led the world in observing a special day. This is a day to think about world mental health. World Mental Health Day happens on October 10 every year.
Voice 1
Today’s Spotlight is on World Mental Health Day 2007. On October 10 people all around the world will join together. They will work to educate people about mental health issues. They will aim to improve treatment and care for people who already suffer from mental health issues. They will try to remove prejudices, or bad ideas about mental health that people have. They will try to help the people of the world to understand mental health issues.
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This year people all around the world will concentrate on a single theme or idea for World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is “Mental Health in a Changing World: The Impact of Culture and Diversity.”
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Mental disorders, or mental issues, are real problems in a person’s brain. They prevent a person from living a full and happy life. There are many different kinds of mental health disorders. For example, mood disorders affect a person’s emotions. Depression is a mood disorder. Anxiety disorders cause a person to feel extreme fear. These fears may be irrational - they may have no reasoning behind them. Other kinds of disorders may affect a person’s eating behaviour, development, personality or other part of the mind.
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Mental disorders can be mild or severe. They can be temporary or permanent. Mental health experts believe that mental disorders are also common. The WHO says that hundreds of millions of people suffer from some form of mental disorder. Mental problems can affect people from any race, ethnicity, country, sex, or place in society. They can affect any person anywhere!
Voice 1
People can receive treatment for mental disorders. But treatment can be difficult to find. And it can be even more difficult for a person to find mental help when he is far away from his home or culture. Many cultures deal with mental problems in different ways. This is the issue that the World Federation for Mental Health wants people to look at on October 10, 2007.
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This issue is particularly important for migrants. The Federation says that three percent of the global population lives outside of their original home countries. These migrants experience different languages, traditions, and values in the countries they move to.
Voice 1
Language, tradition, opinions and values are all a part of culture. And these things can all be barriers to solving mental health problems. Culture influences how people communicate their problems. And language may be a barrier. It may be difficult for a person with mental problems to describe their problems in a different language. A patient and a mental health expert may have difficulties understanding each other.
Voice 2
Culture influences how people see or understand their problems. And it influences people’s opinions of mental health experts. Some cultures believe that poor mental health is a sign of great weakness. They may not believe that mental health disorders are real problems. People may feel shame because of mental illness. People in these cultures may avoid seeking help, to avoid shame.
Voice 1
And culture influences how people choose to use and respond to mental health treatment. Some cultures may treat mental illness as a particular disease - like depression, schizophrenia, or bulimia. They especially concentrate on the signs of these disorders. Then they try to cure just these particular disorders in the patient. Other cultures may treat a mental disorder by treating the many different parts of the person’s whole life.
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There are many more cultural differences than these. It takes time and effort to get past these differences. And for mental health treatment to be effective, people must first deal with differences in culture.
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There are groups around the world that are already making a difference in this area. They set an example of good cross-cultural care. The Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Belgrade, Serbia is one good example.
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In the 1990’s, there was war in this part of the world. In the past, people called this area Yugoslavia. After the war, Yugoslavia split. It became different countries. During this war, many people experienced torture. Torture can leave physical scars or marks. But it can also injure a person’s mind.
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The Center for Rehabilitation of Torture Victims began in 2000. Since then, they have worked to help torture survivors and their families - especially refugees. They provide mental, medical and legal help. They help victims recover from their torture experiences. They help the victim to begin fully living life again. Many people travel to the Center for treatment. But workers from the Center also travel to different areas. This way they can help people who are not able to travel.
Voice 2
The Center works very hard to understand the culture of the people they treat. But they also know that this is a very difficult thing to do. Currently they are working on a project. Other concerned groups are working with them. This project is called “Cultural Aspects of Trauma.” These groups meet together and talk about different ways they can improve their services to people of different cultures. Change in these services is often slow. But they hope to begin to encourage change soon!
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The World Federation for Mental Health believes that all people should work to improve public mental health in their communities. Governments must also be willing to support policies that encourage mental health.
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Poor mental health in a community influences everyone. So join with people everywhere on October 10 to observe World Mental Health Day.
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Think about the people in your community. Think about the things you can do to improve mental health in your area.
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