Research and publications
| Date | 01 September 2005 |
| Pages | 48-52 |
| Published date | 01 September 2005 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200500024 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
UPDATE
48 journal of public mental health
vol 4 • issue 3
©Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Ltd
Older people
Department of Health (2005)
Securing better mental health for older adults
www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/50/80/04115080.pdf
Following the upbeat account of the health of older people
provided in Better Health in Old Age (Philp, 2004), the
progress report on the National Service Framework for
Older People, this is a preliminary attempt to provide a
comprehensive vision of what is needed to address the
mental health needs of older people. Although there are
welcome gestures towards a broader analysis of the key
influences on mental health and well-being in old age –
notably in references to the role of local authorities – the
key focus is on older adult mental health services. Effective
interventions appear to mean medical interventions and
the key question – why are prevalence figures for mental
health problems in older people so high? – is never asked.
The Department of Health has recently established a
programme board charged with improving services for
older people, with representation including the Care
Services Improvement Partnership, the Healthcare
Commission and the Commission for Social Care
Inspection. In theory, the report therefore provides some
ammunition for those struggling for a decent level of
mental health service provision for the elderly,but may
make depressing reading for those concerned with
pensions, poverty, transport and housing. At the same time,
for those hoping to strengthen commitment to public
mental health locally, there is a welcome recognition that
improving mental health improves quality of life, reduces
morbidity and improves outcome from physical illness. A
helpful appendix lists relevant PSA targets.
Philp I (2004). Better health in old age.London: Department of Health.
Evidence of effectiveness
World Health Organisation (2004)
Promoting mental health:concepts, emerging evidence,
practice: summary report
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2004/
9241591595.pdf
World Health Organisation (2004)
Prevention of mental disorders:effective interventions
and policy options: summary report
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2004/
924159215X.pdf
These two reports provide an authoritative and
welcome source of high quality data on evidence of
effectiveness in both the promotion of mental health
and the prevention of mental health problems. The
distinction between promotion and prevention is
welcome and indicates the growing influence of public
mental health and the broader well-being agenda, after
along period in which prevention was the primary
rationale for mental health promotion given by both
WHO and key players on European Commission
funded programmes. The Promoting Mental Health
summary was produced in collaboration with
VicHealth, the Victorian Health Promotion
Foundation in Australia, and makes a strong case for
integrating mental health promotion within public
health. Key areas addressed include human rights,
social capital, cost effectiveness, determinants and
indicators, as well as examples of effective
interventions. There is also a sustained discussion of
the reconceptualisation of mental health in positive
rather than negative terms. The shift in focus to
positive indicators of well-being calls for
methodological refinement in establishing positive
indicators of mental health outcomes, as well as a focus
on research methods that will document process as well
as outcomes. A full report will be published shortly and
constitutes one of the most comprehensive sources of
evidence available (Hermann et al,in press).
Herrman H, Saxena S & Moodie R (in press) Promoting mental health:
concepts, emerging evidence, practice: a report from the World Health
Organisation, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in
collaboration with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth)
and The University of Melbourne.Geneva: WHO.
Human rights
World Health Organisation (2005)
WHO resource book on mental health,human rights
and legislation
http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/resource_
book_MHLeg.pdf
Mental health will be the focus for WHO on Human
Rights Day, 10 December 2005, and this comprehensive
resource book is intended to guide the creation or reform
of mental health legislation in line with human rights
obligations. The book includes a ‘step-by-step’ checklist
for reviewing existing legislation and developing new
Research and publications
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