October 10 - World Mental Health Day

In the R. of Moldova, a National Centre of Crises will be inaugurated, which will deal with the problem of the suicidal behavior of the different categories of age, sex, social status. Another perspective is the opening of a Community Centre of mental health in Ungheni town on the model of those which already act – “Somato” from Balti, Community Centre of mental Health from Buiucani sector of the capital and the Day centre for children in Criuleni. All these actions are included in the National Program on Mental health for 2007-2011, during which the medical community as well as the whole society will unify their efforts towards the elimination of the problem of suicide and suicidal behavior. At the same time, this year’s focus of the World Mental Health Day held annually on October 10, is “Building Awareness - Reducing Risks: Suicide and Mental Illness“. According to the press service of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MSPS), suicide represents a serious problem of social and medical character in the modern community. The number of cases of psychical disorder and self-destroying behavior is increasing at the moment both in rich and poor countries. According to recent data, annually 873,000 people commit suicide, including 163,000 in the European region. Among causes of death for the age group of 15-35, suicide is second, after road accidents. The most widespread causes that lead to suicide are depression, schizophrenia, alcoholism, and drug consumption. In 2005, 631 suicide cases were registered in the R. of Moldova (17.55 per 100.000 people), compared to 603 cases (16.73 per 100,000) in 2004. For the year 2006, MDL 3 mln were accorded in the state budget for the free assurance with psychotropic medicine of the patients suffering from psychical diseases. At the same time for offering medical assistance for patients reinstated in the medical assurance system MDL 7.6 mln were offered. MSPS co-operates in the domain of mental health with the international organizations and NGOs as part of the Regional project “Intensifying social cohesion through strengthening mental health services of the Pact of Stability in South-East Europe”. The project is supported by the European Council and the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization.