The Sixth World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and ...

Strategy 1: Influencing Policy and the Role of Advocacy
Former Prime Minister Kjell Bondevik (Norway), Senator Gordon Smith (US), Senator Michael Kirby
(Canada), and Dr. Shekhar Saxena (WHO, Switzerland) began the session with a panel discussion
focusing on advocacy as a means of effecting policy for mental health promotion and prevention. Mr.
Bondevik spoke of his personal experiences with depression during his term as Prime Minister of Norway,
and how he learned the value of speaking out about mental health issues to reduce stigma. He
acknowledged the effects of stress and grief and the real impact they have on health and well being.
Continuing this personal thread, Sen. Smith discussed how the suicide of his 22-year-old son became the
impetus for landmark legislation in the US on youth suicide prevention and early intervention , known as
the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. Advocacy, he said, happened one legislator at a time. Most
important, he added, was “putting a human face on a cause that affects too many people.”
Sen. Kirby discussed the initiatives in Canada to address issues of mental health, particularly for the first
national study of these issues. Out of the Shadows at Last, the final report of the study, was released in
May, 2006. Sen. Kirby noted that all eleven members of the committee had first-hand experience in their
families with the issues of mental health. Even though they had all known each other for a long time, they
had never discussed their personal experiences, indicating how strong the silence has been around
mental health issues. What is most important, he emphasized, is the need to create a social movement—
to rally the troops to this most important cause.
Dr. Saxena called for people to stand out and advocate, to become champions to enact change. Mental
health is a human rights issue for those who suffer from mental illness and their families. Moreover, the
impact of natural disasters, such as the tsunami in Indonesia or the floods in Pakistan, and military
conflict create increasing needs as people cope with the consequences of these events. <strong>The</strong>se events,
however, can also create the opportunity to advocate for change, bringing these needs to the forefront
through media attention and education.
Strategy 1 breakout sessions included a symposium on New and Emerging Approaches to Mental Health
Promotion. Additional session topics included Interpretations of symptoms of mental health problems by
black parents and youth in economically distressed communities, Behavioral health best practices for
indigenous populations, Developing and implementing national strategies for suicide prevention, and
North-South partnerships for the promotion of mental health.
Strategy 2: Reporting on Research on Promotion and Prevention
Professor Corey Keyes (US) and Dr. Carl Bell (US) began the session with presentations on research on
promotion and prevention. Prof. Keyes highlighted research looking at models of mental health in relation
to mental illness as a continuum from “flourishing” to “languishing.” In addition, results from research with
college students and a separate study of twins indicate that there is a strong genetic disposition for
positive mental health as well as for mental illness. Despite this component, positive mental health is
malleable, he noted. Moreover, the absence of mental illness does not equate to good mental health nor
does the presence of mental illness equate to poor mental health. <strong>The</strong> implication is that promoting and
protecting good mental health is essential to well being.
Dr. Bell focused on early prevention, drawing on research from Preventing Mental, Emotional, and
Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, a 2009 report from the National Research Council and the
Institute of Medicine, which indicated that mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders are developmental.
<strong>The</strong> report found that risk factors are not predictive factors due to the presence of protective factors in the
prevention of mental illness. Based on these findings, Dr. Bell commented on the need for a paradigm
shift in approaching mental illness through early prevention and mental health promotion rather than only
treating disorders as they manifest later in the life-course. Looking at factors such as resiliency,
developmental competence, and social inclusion, early intervention for individuals and families show
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