According to the report of the National Mental Health Survey, Nepal 2020 (Adults Factsheet), 10 in 100 adults once went through any sort of Mental Disorder in their lifetime. Meanwhile, 5 in 100 were currently going through Mental Disorder problems. Similar data can be seen in WHO’s Special Initiative For Mental Health Situation Country Report of Nepal 2022.
Furthermore, after the COVID-19 Pandemic, the rate of people suffering from Mental Disorders has skyrocketed drastically. Many campaigns have been run by different organizations to deal with such scenarios in Nepal. Likewise, to contribute to such a great cause, Norvic International Hospital is organizing a CME Program on the Integration Of Mental Health Into Primary Care.
CME Program (Integration Of Mental Health Into Primary Care)
The CME Program is a part of Norvic’s Continuing Medical Education. The topic of the CME Program is the Integration Of Mental Health Into Primary Care in which the whole program will revolve in.
According to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, there are seven good reasons for integrating mental health into primary care. They are as follows:
1. The burden of mental disorders is great. Mental disorders are prevalent in all societies. They create a substantial personal burden for affected individuals and their families, and they produce significant economic and social hardships that affect society as a whole.
2. Mental and physical health problems are interwoven. Many people suffer from both physical and mental health problems. Integrated primary care services help ensure that people are treated in a holistic manner, meeting the mental health needs of people with physical disorders, as well as the physical health needs of people with mental disorders.
3. The treatment gap for mental disorders is enormous. In all countries, there is a significant gap between the prevalence of mental disorders, on one hand, and the number of people receiving treatment and care, on the other hand. Primary care for mental health helps close this gap.
4. Primary care for mental health enhances access. Integrating mental health into primary health care is the best way of ensuring that people get the mental health care they need. When mental health is integrated into primary care, people can access mental health services closer to their homes, thus keeping their families together and maintaining their daily activities. Primary health care services also facilitate community outreach and mental health promotion, as well as long-term monitoring and management of affected individuals.
5. Primary care for mental health promotes respect for human rights. Mental health services delivered in primary health care minimize stigma and discrimination. They also remove the risk of human rights violations that occur in psychiatric hospitals.
6. Primary care for mental health is affordable and cost-effective. Primary mental health care services are less expensive than psychiatric hospitals, for patients, communities and governments alike. In addition, patients and families avoid indirect costs associated with seeking specialist care in distant locations. Treatment of common mental disorders is very cost-effective, and even small investments by governments can bring important benefits.
7. Primary care for mental health generates good health outcomes. The majority of people with mental disorders treated in primary health care have good outcomes, particularly when linked to a network of services at the secondary level and in the community.
Source: CMC Nepal
These are the reasons why the Integration of Mental Health into Primary Care is important. Now, let’s take a look at our event details.
A Global Perspective on Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care by WHO & Wonca: Click here to read the PDF
Event Details
The event will begin at 4:00 PM on 15th October 2022 (Saturday). If you are interested to participate in the event, you can simply fill up our Registration Form. You can simply scan the QR Code below to Register. However, the seats are limited and only a few selected interested participants will be invited to join the event.
Event Day: 15th October 2022 (Saturday)
Event Time: 4:00 PM
Event Speaker: Dr. Ira Naeem
About Our Speaker, Dr. Ira Naeem
Dr. Ira Naeem is a Clinical Psychologist with 11 years of experience in individual psychotherapy for adults, children, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. She is specialized in evidence-based models of intervention for trauma, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
This includes Eye Movement Desensitized Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In parallel, she has extensive experience in conducting psychometric assessments (diagnostic and educational) for children and providing treatment plans for schools and families to implement as part of Individualized Educational Plans (IEP).
Dr. Naeem believes that helping individuals pass by makes them consciously aware of the deepest level of emotional, mental, and spiritual difficulties while they gain meaningful insight into their behaviour.
Currently, Dr. Ira Naeem is affiliated with American Hospital Dubai as a Clinical Psychologist. Talking about her academics, she has completed her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from G.C University, Pakistan. Similarly, she has been associated with the British Psychological Association as well as the Pakistan Psychological Association as a member for a long time.
Conclusion
With great hopes and effort to change the current Mental Health Disorder scenario in Nepal, we, Norvic International Hospital have organized such an event. The main motive of the event is to spread awareness about Mental Health and its effects.
Furthermore, the importance of Mental Health is still ignored which has caused various kinds of Mental Health Disorders cases, especially in Teenagers and Adults. Let the event be a spark of fire that will ignite others as well and make people realize the importance of Mental Health to all.
