Why is Mental Illness so low on the Global Health Agenda?

Overcoming the stigma of mental health remains a challenge in America, but it’s an even greater fight in developing countries where […]

In This Article:

If you need help,
we’re here for you.
Contact us today.

Get Help

100% Confidential
Pasadena Villa
Locations & Programs
Smoky Mountain Lodge
(Sevierville, TN)
Intensive Residential Treatment and Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The Villa Orlando
(Orlando, FL)
Intensive Residential Treatment and PHP
The Stables Autism Program
(Sevierville, TN)
Intensive Residential Treatment

Overcoming the stigma of mental health remains a challenge in America, but it’s an even greater fight in developing countries where suicide ranks alongside — or even higher — than maternal mortality as the leading cause of death among young women.

Despite recent reports highlighting the need for greater attention to mental health, many people still tend to view mental illness as a character flaw. Consequently, the mentally ill in poor or ignorant communities are thought of as weak or lazy and suffer severe abuse, even in healthcare settings.

“In developing countries, it is not uncommon to find people with serious mental illness chained up, locked away or subjected to regular, outright abuse, even in health care institutions,” says Vikram Patel, a psychiatrist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and one of the leading advocates and pioneers of incorporating mental health services in poor countries. “If any of us saw even one individual with HIV/AIDS treated like that, there would be global outrage … But you don’t see the same outrage when it is people with mental illness.”

Visit Humanosphere.org to learn more about the efforts at better incorporating mental health into the global health agenda.

The Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa’s Smoky Mountain Lodge are adult intensive psychiatric residential treatment centers for clients with serious mental illnesses. We also provide other individualized therapy programs, step-down residential programs, and less intensive mental health services, such as Community Residential Homes, Supportive Housing, Day Treatment Programs and Life Skills training. Pasadena Villa’s Outpatient Center in Raleigh, North Carolina offers partial hospitalization (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (PHP). If you or someone you know may need mental health services, please complete our contact form or call us at 407-574-5190 for more information.

If you’re ready to start your recovery, we’re here to help.

Contact us today.

Our treatment centers accept private payment, out-of-network benefits, and in-network benefits.

Our Admissions Team is available at 407.574.5190 to discuss your payment options.

Recent Posts

If you’re ready to take the next step in the recovery process for you or your loved one, the compassionate team at Pasadena Villa is here to help. Give us a call at 407.574.5190 or complete our contact form.

Looking for treatment?

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter

Get exclusive resources, find inspiration, and grow alongside us. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter now!

X