Sir, - I refer to the article by Kitty Holland (The Irish Times, February 5th) regarding the residential home in Swords, Co Dublin for patients from St Ita's in Portrane. A health board spokeswoman is quoted as having said, when asked about labelling of the residents as unstable, that it was "unfortunate" that such an attitude existed. "There is so much mental ill health around us, the people don't even want to acknowledge that. These patients are looking for a welcome and a spirit of generosity." This seems clearly to endorse the need for education of our society.
The World Health Organisation, a United Nations specialised agency, each year encourages governments, organisations, and health and educational institutions to celebrate World Health Day on April 7th. The WHO, for the first time in its history, is devoting World Health Day 2001 to mental health. This is a unique opportunity to bring attention to mental health issues and reach the usually unreachable.
Some 400 million people in the world suffer from mental or neurological disorders or from psychosocial problems such as those related to alcohol and drug abuse. Of every four people who turn to the health services for help, at least one is troubled by these disorders, which are often not correctly diagnosed and thus not treated.
Our society would benefit from a systematic educational programme about mental health because lack of understanding generally results from ignorance. - Yours, etc.,
Eleanor Dawson, National Baha'i Centre, Burlington Road, Dublin 4.