The World Federation for Mental Health: Building its constituency in the East Mediterranean Region for improving care and the lives of the mentally ill and their families

The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is an international membership organization founded in 1948 to advance, among all peoples and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health. The Federation, through its members and contacts in more than 100 countries on six continents including the East Mediterranean Region, has responded to international mental health crises through its role as the only worldwide grassroots advocacy and public education organization in the mental health field. Its organizational and individual membership includes mental health workers of all disciplines, consumers of mental health services, family members, and concerned citizens. The organization’s broad and diverse membership makes possible collaboration among governments and non-governmental organizations to advance the cause of mental health services, research, and policy advocacy worldwide. The article will introduce the WFMH current work programmes and initiatives including ones to address the mental health consequences of post conflict situations with the aim of building its constituency in the East Mediterranean Region to advance the Mental Health agenda as outlined in the World Health Organization Mental Health Atlas 2011 and establish links with governmental and non-governmental organizations and contribute to their efforts to achieve country objectives for improving the lives of the mentally ill and their families. The WFMH has developed the ‘Great Push for Mental Health’ initiative for global action; has contributed to the WHO draft Comprehensive Mental Health Plan (CMHP); developed the Charter for Mental Health; and, jointly with the WHO has developed an Action Plan for its implementation and proposed the establishment of a Mental Health Observatory to monitor global implementation of the CMHP). WFMH seeks the support of all organizations in the EMRO for contributing to these initiatives and programmes for improving care and the lives of the mentally ill and their families. “The world was sick, and the ills from which it was suffering were mainly due to the perversion of man, his inability to live at peace with himself.” George Brock Chisholm Founding Member of the WFMH