JOHANNESBURG, Nov 19, 2001 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- One in four people will be affected by mental illness at some point in their lives, yet nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental disorder will never seek help, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report released here on Monday.

In the report entitled "New Understanding, New Hope", the WHO urged governments to seek solutions for mental health that are readily available and affordable.

According to the report, new knowledge could have a tremendous impact on how individuals, societies and the public health community deal with mental illness.

The WHO report therefore makes several recommendations:

-- Large mental institutions no longer represent the best option for patients and families, and countries should be encouraged to set up community care alternatives in a planned manner;

-- Furthermore, the management and treatment of mental disorders in primary care would enable the largest number of people to get faster and easier access to treatment;

-- Psychotropic drugs should be made available at all levels of health care and mental health care should be included in all training curricula;

-- The development of public education and awareness campaigns were crucial to reduce large-scale stigmatizing and discrimination, both of which are barriers to treatment and care;

-- Sectors other than health, such as education, labor, welfare and law, should be involved in improving the mental health of communities.

Psychiatrist and WHO Mental Health Director Benedetto Saraceno, who is in South Africa to present the report to the South African government, said his organization is trying to focus the world's attention on mental health, due to the sheer magnitude and burden of these often ignored disorders on the society.

"Stigma, discrimination and neglect prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders," Saraceno said at a public lecture in Johannesburg.

He pointed out that mental disorders and disease are already the fourth leading cause of the global disease burden.

He invited the South African government to bring about positive change in the acceptance and treatment of mental disorders.

Despite the chronic and long-term nature of some mental disorders, with the proper treatment, people afflicted with such disorders could live productive lives and be a vital part of their communities, he said.

Over 80 percent of people with schizophrenia could be free of relapses at the end of one year of drug treatment combined with family intervention, Saraceno said.

The responsibility for action lies with governments, but more than 40 percent of countries have no mental health policy and the magnitude of the health burden is not matched by the size and effectiveness of the response it demands, he noted.

"In South Africa approximately 12.3 percent of the population is in need of some form of mental health care, yet only 2 percent of your current health budget is allocated for this purpose," he said.

The poor often have to bear the greater burden of mental disorders and the lack of access of affordable treatment makes the course of the illness even more severe and debilitating, he said.

Because many countries lack the necessary resources, the United Nations and other developmental agencies could assist with mental health infrastructure development and manpower training, Saraceno said.

He concluded his presentation on an optimistic note by pointing out that scientific advances made in the treatment of mental disorders mean that most individuals and families can get help.

"In addition, suitable and progressive mental health policy and legislation can go a long way towards delivering services to those in need. There is new understanding, and there is new hope," he said.

　　From Healthy.net