Global burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanpsy/PIIS2215-0366%2815%2900505-2.pdf

Estimating the true global burden of mental illness.

Epidemiology of maternal depression, risk factors, and child outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries.

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Aims To examine the: (a) 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV MDD; (b) proportion aware that they have a problem needing treatment and who want care; (c) proportion of the latter receiving treatment; and (d) proportion of such treatment meeting minimal standards. Method Representative community household surveys from 21 countries as part of the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. Results Of 51 547 respondents, 4.6% met 12-month criteria for DSM-IV MDD and of these 56.7% reported needing treatment. Among those who recognised their need for treatment, most (71.1%) made at least one visit to a service provider. Among those who received treatment, only 41.0% received treatment that met minimal standards. This resulted in only 16.5% of all individuals with 12-month MDD receiving minimally adequate treatment. Conclusions Only a minority of participants with MDD received minimally adequate treatment: 1 in 5 people in high-income and 1 in 27 in low-/lower-middle-income countries. Scaling up care for MDD requires fundamental transformations in community education and outreach, supply of treatment and quality of services.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/3160B8E5C90376FA0644A5B0DAFA308B/S0007125000279671a.pdf/div-class-title-undertreatment-of-people-with-major-depressive-disorder-in-21-countries-div.pdf

Undertreatment of people with major depressive disorder in 21 countries

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(14)61603-2.pdf

Culture and health

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(11)60891-X.pdf

Scale up of services for mental health in low-income and middle-income countries.

Global Mental Health 4 Scale up of services for mental health in low-income and middle-income countries

We are now in a position where a small amount of extra pressure could be the final straw, writes Layla McCay

/pdf/omicron-urgent-action-needed-on-nhs-staffing-crisis-2cle5wci.pdf

Omicron: Urgent action needed on NHS staffing crisis

/pdf/covid-continues-to-disrupt-what-is-the-plan-to-deal-with-it-3mi51yj6.pdf

Covid continues to disrupt: what is the plan to deal with it?

A significant and growing gap in life expectancy for people living in areas with the highest and lowest levels of deprivation means there is now an urgent need to create opportunities for health and care systems to drive improvements in population health outcomes at pace. So, if the rumours are to be believed and the new secretary of state for health and social care has decided to shelve the work of her predecessor and abandon the long-awaited health inequalities white paper this will deal a huge blow to the health and life chances of millions of people across the country.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/378/bmj.o2369.full.pdf

Layla McCay

Papers

Scale up of services for mental health in low-income and middle-income countries.

Global Mental Health 4 Scale up of services for mental health in low-income and middle-income countries

Omicron: Urgent action needed on NHS staffing crisis

Covid continues to disrupt: what is the plan to deal with it?

Why a health disparities white paper is still so vital and should not be scrapped