Making Mental Health a Global Priority 

THE GREAT PUSH FOR MENTAL HEALTH
	Introduction to the Great Push for Mental Health Initiative Great Push Initiative
	**GREAT PUSH MENTAL HEALTH CHARTER CAMPAIGN – SIGN UP AND SUPPORT THE 1st GREAT PUSH ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN** To take our survey and sign on in support of the Mental Health Charter campaign – please click here To view the Campaign information in Spanish – please  click here
	The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) continues to push its vision of a world in which mental health is a priority for all people. Even though mental health services are increasingly being recognized as critical, they still get short shrift. They do not get the resources and support they deserve. WFMH continues to sponsor international conferences on mental health innovations and on mental health promotion and prevention, to conduct projects of specific topical or regional interest such as those on HIV/AIDS and depression, and diabetes and depression, and to coordinate and support World Mental Health Day. (World Mental Health Day was created by WFMH!). More recently, WFMH has redoubled efforts to achieve its vision through an initiative led by Dr. John Copeland that we are calling the Great Push for Mental Health. WFMH has formed a strategic alliance with the Movement for Global Mental Health (MGMH). The Movement is best reflected in a series of articles in The Lancet. Essentially, these articles make the case that mental illnesses constitute a significant proportion of the global burden of disease and that prioritization and attention on mental health intervention will contribute significantly to both economic and social development. In 2008, the “Lancet GMH 2007 Series” made a call to governments and donors for “Action on Mental Health” drawing attention to the impact of mental illness on the economies of countries and the wellbeing of its citizens many millions of whom go untreated. As few governments appear to have responded they need encouragement by direct action. We need that action now! Read more about the campaign and its major themes here!
	THE WORLD FEDERATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH GREAT PUSH FOR MENTAL HEALTH "People Power" The Great Push for Mental Health is an initiative of the WFMH in strategic alliance with the Movement for Global Mental Health. It has four elements, UNITY, VISIBILITY, RIGHTS, and RECOVERY. Under "Unity" the aim is to carry mental health up to the top of the health agendas of governments which have generally failed to act on the many "world" reports and the Lancet Call for Action. We want these governments to see the importance of mental health not only for the millions which still go untreated but also for the economies of countries, individual poverty and lack of well-being. We need your support to change this. Why now? 1. Millions are untreated because there are few skilled mental health workers worldwide. New cheap methods of computer assisted assessment, diagnosis and treatment for clinical use are now coming on stream to remedy this problem which have the potential to radically change this situation. 2. To have mental illness and health seriously considered at UN and governmental level it must hold a place on the agenda of the United Nations Special Session on Non-communicable Diseases in September 2011. This committee set the goals, tasks and indicators for governments. We have strong support at a high level but we need "People Power" to galvanize support. That is why we need you to sign on to our campaign. 3. Whether or not we succeed with the UN we still plan a WFMH sponsored convention in 2012 to approve a charter to the United Nations on what the mental health community in all countries agrees governments must do to promote mental health and mental well-being in their communities. We shall succeed through "People Power". At the same time the Federation will be working with sympathetic governments, consumer and family organizations and provider agencies to bring their influence to bear. The first action item is to show our presence, we need to give weight to our demands; we need to show our UNITY! By creating a global network of people in support of these changes we will show our unity, our power, our commitment to change. We need you to sign on as a supporter of the Great Push for Mental Health –and in particular that you agree that mental health, neuropsychiatric disease and well-being must be included in the UN Special Session of Non-communicable Diseases, September 2011 the power of a collective voice will bring mental health into the spotlight and there will be no choice but to recognize the needs and wants of the people. Please indicate your support by filling out the Great Push – NCD Campaign Survey - located at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/wfmhgp. It takes so little time compared with the influence it could have. Thank you for your help, this is the most efficient way to generate People Power and press for reform – we hope you will spread the news to others via E-mail, Facebook or Twitter and encourage them to sign up too. The more people the greater the power! John Copeland Chairman, WFMH Great Push for Mental Health
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