World Federation for Mental Health perspectives on advancing person- and people-centered care

Main Article Content

Roger Montenegro

Abstract

The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has always shown considerable adherence to a holistic approach in the care of the mentally ill, as reflected in its mission statement. Lately, the WFMH has primarily concentrated on the Great Push for Mental Health and its alliance with the Global Movement for Mental Health. The WFMH has already embarked on an international consensus to demonstrate the unity which exists through advocacy and shared goals and to improve visibility by gathering support through campaigns such as The World Mental Health Day to effect change at a worldwide and governmental level. Importantly, the WFMH has a clear recovery focus through utilization of proper assessment tools and treatments.  An innovative global mental health assessment tool (GMHAT), which can enable the diagnosis and proper treatment of mental health conditions using evidence-based computer technology, may be included in the Person-centered Integrated Diagnosis (PID) model. An alliance/memorandum of understanding between the WFMH and the International College for Person Centered Medicine (ICPCM) is expected to be formalized.

Article Details

Section
Stakeholders’ roles and contributions beyond annual meetings: next steps to advance person- and people-centered care
Author Biography

Roger Montenegro, World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH); World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR).

Prof Montenegro is a Member of the Board of Directors of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), acting as Corporate Secretary and Regional Vice-President for South America. Besides, he is Regional Vice-President for the Americas of the World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR). He also holds honorary appointments at some Latin American psychiatric associations. From 1989 Prof Montenegro became actively involved in the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), where he held the following positions: WPA Zone Representative for Latin America, WPA Secretary for the Board of Regional Representatives, WPA Secretary for Education, first Chair and afterwards Consultant to the WPA Committee on Education, Webmaster of WPA Online, and WPA Council Member. Since 1996 he was Honorary Member, which was then upgraded to Honorary Fellow and in 2005 he was granted the Presidential Commendation Award. In 1996 he became President of the Latin American Psychiatric Association (APAL) and is now a Council Member, as well as webmaster of its website.

References

World Federation for Mental Health: A Brief History, Available at

http://www.wfmh.org/03Briefhistory.htm

Copeland, J. The Great Push for Mental Health, Available at

http://www.wfmh.org/03GreatPush.htm

World Mental Health Day, Available at

http://www.wfmh.org/00WorldMentalHealthDay.htm

Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Mental Disorders, Available at http://www.wfmh.org/00PromPrevention.htm

Fowke, A. (2011). Forewords for the Conceptual Bases of Psychiatry for the Person. International Journal of Person Centered Medicine 1 (1) 119-120.

Mezzich, J.E., Christodoulou, G. & Fulford. K. (2011). Introduction to the Conceptual Bases of Psychiatry for the Person. International Journal of Person Centered Medicine 1 (1) 121-124.