Public awareness of the magnitude and severity of our contemporary mental health problem and the interest of government, professional and lay organizations have prompted programs directed at better understanding, or effective treatment and long-range prevention. Efforts to improve mental health are apparent not only in our society but also in many other countries they involve and international as well as national and local organizations and approaches.
US efforts in mental health:
In the United States, the primary responsibility for dealing with mental disorders fell initially to state and local agencies. During World war II. However, the extent of mental disorders in the United States was brought to public attention when a large number of young men (2 out of every 7 recruits) were rejected for military service for psychiatric reasons. This discovery led to a variety of organized measures for coping with the nation’s mental health problem.
In 1946, aware of the need for more research, training and services in the field of mental health, the first comprehensive mental health bill was passed, The National mental health Act which lad the basis for the federal government’s programs in the 2950s and 1960s. The bill provided the establishment in 1946 of the national Institute of mental health (NIMH) in Washington Dc. The agency was to serve as a central research and training center and as headquarters for the administration o a grant-in-aid program designed to foster research and training elsewhere in the nation and to help state and local communities expand and improve their own mental health services.
Professional organizations and mental health:
Planning a psychiatric service is attributed to various organizations set all across the country. A number of national professional organizations exist in the mental health field. These include the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Psychological society (APS), the American Psychiatric Association )APA), the American Medical Association (AMA), the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy (AABT) and the American Association for Social Work. One of the most important functions of these organizations is to set and maintain high professional and ethical standards within their special areas. This function may include:
Establishing and reviewing training qualifications for professional and paraprofessional personnel
Setting standards and procedures for the accreditation of undergraduate and graduate training programs
Setting standards and for the accreditation of clinics, hospitals or other service operations and carrying out inspections to see that the standards are followed
Investigating reported cases of unethical or unprofessional conduct and taking disciplinary action when necessary.
Another major function of these organizations involves communication and information exchange within their areas via meetings, symposia, workshops, refresher courses, the publication or professional and scientific journals and related activities. In addition, all such organizations sponsor programs of public education as a means of advancing the interests of their professionals, drawing attention to mental health needs and attracting students to careers in their areas.
