There can be no health without mental health.
Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of sex, age, race, religion, ethnicity or socio-economic class. In any given year one in five people are estimated to suffer from a mental illness and the economic and social costs of these disorders is staggering.
The need for improved access and availability of appropriate mental health services for all people suffering from mental illness globally is immense. However, the need for child and adolescent mental health services is now being recognized as the area of greatest need.
The recognition of this reality is increasing globally and countries which have historically neglected mental health in their health services are now beginning to actively address this issue. Substantial barriers to meeting mental health care needs, particularly in low and middle income countries exist.
Thus, there is both an opportunity and a challenge - how can we globally address the mental health needs of young people in the most appropriate manner? This is a challenge that the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health is beginning to address.
A number of initiatives have been built on the international work of Dr. Kutcher and Dr. Chehil in the development of mental health policies and innovative mental health training programs. They include the development of innovative mental health training models for general health providers, peer health intervener training in mental health for schools and community programs, and school-based mental health programs.
These initiatives were created as part of the activities of both the Section of International Psychiatry and the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization Collaborating Center in Mental Health Training and Policy Development , the Chair, in collaboration with WHO, PAHO, UNESCO, Health Canada: Province of Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University, and others.
