Topic: Expanding Mental Health Resources
Country: India
Delegate Name: Katherine Mooney
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All India position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
The World Health Organization defines health as “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” we must continue to consider the advancements of mental health resources. As it currently stands the pace at which mental health research is advancing is too slow and needs to improve. As research and development of mental health resources improve links to physical and other health issues will advance as well. Once again our committee has several questions we must consider. How can we define “mental illness”? How can the process of diagnosis be improved? What are viable treatment methods? Can we improve training of care providers? Each of these questions lead to needed development of policies and programs. It is crucial that the international community takes a role in expanding mental health resources. India needs to see a comprehensive resolution pushing for further research into mental health. Including research into diagnose, links to physical health, and further treatment methods. India urges other countries to take into consideration the inequalities seen in the field of mental health. Particularly in regards to diagnose and availability of treatment. Every patient affected by mental illness must have available treatment. Our committee must also take into account the barriers currently seen in mental health. Public health programs in many nations do not hold mental health as a priority. In part it is due to funding. Using international bank funds our committee may be able to put together a method of funding to further public health agencies. For countries lacking public programs there has to be a development of said programs. The availability of care is severely lacking in many underdeveloped countries. Programs and clinics similar to many NGOs can be formed and deployed to assist low income countries. For clinics such as these we have to consider the lack of trained professionals in the field of mental health. We must consider that training can be advanced further. The last barrier that has to be looked into is the existing stigma surrounding mental health in many countries.
