March in the capital: Mental health is not a luxury, it's a responsibility

The Centre for Psychic and Medical Research on Monday has held the first awareness march for Mental Health in Kosovo.

<x) > There was no mental health”, there were some of the banners in their hands.

Verone Përçuku, programme manager, said that through this they aim to promote awareness of mental health, contribute to the reduction of the stigma and the need for increased institutional attention due to mental health,

The main calls for this awareness march were:

• Growth in mental health services: Kosovo institutions must prioritize increased funds and resources for mental health services to ensure that all have access to affordable and quality mental health care.

• The foundation of an Ode of Psychologists: Institutions must work towards establishing an ode of psychologists in Kosovo to provide a professional governing body for psychologists and promote high standards of professional practice.

• Foreordained profiles and roles of professionals who engage in mental health care: Taking into account the importance of the qualifications of health professionals in relation to the service they are called on to offer, we suggest that the specification of the profile and role of clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker and other qualified and trained persons in offering relevant services to mental health care be provided.

• Growth in mental health education: Institutions need to boost mental health education in schools and universities to promote awareness and understanding of mental health issues.

• Improve mental health policies: Institutions must develop and implement policies supporting individuals with mental health problems, including providing access to mental health care, protecting their rights and reducing discrimination. Praising the importance of the design of policies and practices that address the needs and challenges in getting proper treatment of all the groups in the society, we demand that mental health issues be considered in relation to persons of low-income groups, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, children and young people, women, older men and other social groups.

• Be made the development and implementation of a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy involving early identification, effective interventions, including law enforcement of suicide prevention, and providing support to those in danger of suicide.

• Growth in research: Institutions should invest in research that helps us better understand mental health issues and how to treat them effectively, with a focus on providing up-to-date mental health data at all levels.