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Jan Ivar Røssberg
professor and chief physician at the University of Oslo
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Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
Specialist Psychologist, Ph.D., Nidaros DPS, St. Olavs Hospital
Mental Health is responsible for the national celebration of World Mental Health Day. This year they have chosen the almost trivial theme “Ask More”, write Jan Ivar Røssberg, professor and chief physician, and Joar Øveraas Halvorsen, specialist psychologist. Vegard Wivestad Grøtt / NTB
Is the “Ask More” topic really the most pressing when it comes to mental health and mental illness?
Debate
This is a discussion post. Opinions in the text are the responsibility of the writer.
World Mental Health Day is a great initiative and on October 10 it will be celebrated for the 28th time. Then we can put mental health and mental disorders on the agenda. It is necessary, because there are still many misconceptions in society about what mental disorders are and how they are best treated.
People with mental illness are affected by bothersome symptoms, impaired functions and a reduced quality of life. Unfortunately, they still die 12 to 15 years earlier than average.
Serious mental illnesses have a higher death rate than many serious somatic illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Fortunately, we have many treatment approaches that are effective. However, the question is whether we are willing to use them. It costs money.
Jan Ivar Røssberg, professor and chief physician at the University of Oslo. Private
Tame Norwegian slogans
The theme for this year’s International Mental Health Day is “Mental Health for All: More Investment, Greater Access.” This is an important issue in Norway too, in part because:
• Health trusts cannot meet the golden rule. He says that mental health care should have a higher priority than the somatic sector.
• The number of beds is drastically reduced. From 1998 to 2018, the number of beds was reduced by half from 6,276 to 3,359.
• Outpatients do not receive adequate medical care due to resource constraints. In one study, psychologists report that one in four patients does not receive treatment often enough to be effective, and that one in five patients is allowed to finish treatment before it ends.
• Research on mental disorders is underfunded.
Over the years, Norwegian slogans for World Day have been criticized for being tame and nonsensical. Mental Health is responsible for the national celebration of World Day. This year, they have chosen the almost trivial topic “Ask More”.
We understand that Mental Health tries to choose themes and slogans that can affect everyone. But is the “Ask More” topic really the most pressing when it comes to mental health and mental illness? We don’t mean that.
Joar Øveraas Halvorsen, psychologist, PhD, Nidaros DPS, St. Olav Hospital. Private
Best International Theme
Lack of resources in mental health care leads to poorer treatment. Reduced beds means shorter sleep hours and overcrowded bed posts. This contributes to increased use of coercion, increased use of medications at the expense of psychosocial treatment, and increased risk of relapse after discharge.
Arriving early with optimal treatment for mental illness can prevent suicide / suicide attempts and improve prognosis. However, in many cases people with mental illness have to spend months before receiving help. We have never accepted this in cancer or cardiovascular disease.
Including family members when a family member is affected by a mental illness (family work), we know that it reduces relapses and prevents readmissions. In addition, it prevents anxiety and depressive disorders in relatives. However, this offer is almost non-existent in the specialized health service.
Psychotherapy is offered to most people with mental illness. However, the type they receive, the number of hours, and the extent to which it is based on knowledge is almost random. Research indicates that offering treatment twice a week is better than once a week. In many cases, you only have the resources to offer patients a consultation every two weeks.
That is why the international theme is – «Mental health for all: more investment, better access. To all. Everywhere. “- Much better and relevant than the theme that Mental Health has chosen for the national celebration. The field of mental health needs more than nonsense nonsense.
