Citation

Rutz W. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. Suppl. 2006; (429): 95-100.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00725.x

PMID

16445490

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the social psychiatric challenges of modern psychiatry in European societies in the light of recent psychiatric research evidence and to show how these challenges could be conceptualized.
METHOD: Reviewing aggregate morbidity and mortality data from the WHO European Health for All Database, and summarizing consultations and fact-finding missions to many European countries during the authors engagement as WHO Regional Advisor for Mental health from 1998 to 2004.
RESULTS: Societal change in Europe is leading to stress and mental ill health for its populations. The consequence is a dramatic increase in burden due to mental illness and stress-related morbidity and mortality.
CONCLUSION: A re-thought and re-conceptualized social and societal psychiatry with focus on public mental health must have a renaissance. Innovative efforts are of crucial and imperative importance seeing mental health in the light of recent experience and science as probably the most important public health issue.

Language: en

Keywords

Cause of Death; Community Psychiatry; Cross-Sectional Studies; Europe; Female; Forecasting; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Mental Health Services; Psychiatry; Public Facilities; Self-Injurious Behavior; Stress, Psychological; Suicide; World Health Organization