[WSIS CS-Plenary] SV: [Pwd] Finalization of the CS Statement

[Elizabeth Carll, PhD]

Dear Kicki,

Thank you for your interest and follow up comment on this topic, as it was
an area that generated heated debate and the language was eventually
determined with the finalization of the CS Statement.

It is good to hear that mental health is part of primary care in Sweden and
not surprising as Sweden is recognized as a progressive country in a variety
of areas.  Likely there may be a couple of countries which have mental
health included as part of  primary healthcare, however, I  would be
interested in hearing more as having some services included does not
necessarily mean there is parity for mental and physical health and that it
is a seamless service.  It would be wonderful to see that this is truly
beginning to happen in some countries and likely Sweden could be a role
model in this process.

However, for the remainder of the world, mental health is not a seamless
process within primary health care. The CS Statement applies to all nations
which was why it was important to include mental health in the health
section.  I have always been impressed by Sweden's  progressive perspective
on various societal issues.

In fact, Sweden is especially well represented at the UN, as the president
of the General Assembly, Jan Eliasson, is from Sweden.  I had attended an
informal briefing in December for NGOs with Jan Eliasson and another
meeting, yesterday, where he spoke about the progress on UN reform and what
role civil society can play.  Eliasson is an exceptional leader and is held
in high regard in the CS community with a long history of humanitarian field
experience. Unfortunately, he only has six months left of his one year term
as president of the UNGA.

Based on my experience with representatives from Sweden, likely Sweden will
continue to be a role model in a variety of areas.

Best regards,

Elizabeth

Dr. Elizabeth Carll
Health and ICT Working Group
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies;
Communications Coordination Committee for the UN;
UN NGO Committee on Mental Health


-----Original Message-----
From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org]On
Behalf Of Kicki Nordström
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 1:50 AM
To: Elizabeth Carll, PhD; bendrath at zedat.fu-berlin.de
Cc: Pwd at wsis-cs.org; plenary at wsis-cs.org; WSIS-CT;
wsishealth-and-ict at yahoogroups.com; WSIS CT-Drafting
Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] SV: [Pwd] Finalization of the CS Statement


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Dear Elisabeth,

Since I am more thann tired of reading this endless debate, and since I had
much more important things to do in mid December, for instance coordinate
the Article on Health in the disability convention, I have not devoted time
for this discussion.

I can at least, for answering your repiteble question, say that mental
health CARE is part of the primary health care system in Sweden. You must
also differ health, from health care, which are two different things.

Hope this satisfy your question!
Yours
Kicki


Kicki Nordström
World Blind Union
Immediate Past  President
c/o SRF Iris AB
122 88 Enskede
Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)8 399 000
Fax: +46 (0)8 725 99 20
Cell: +46 (0)70 766 18 19
E-mail: kino at iris.se

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: pwd-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:pwd-admin at wsis-cs.org] För Elizabeth
Carll, PhD
Skickat: den 19 december 2005 03:46
Till: bendrath at zedat.fu-berlin.de
Kopia: Pwd at wsis-cs.org; plenary at wsis-cs.org; 'WSIS-CT';
wsishealth-and-ict at yahoogroups.com; WSIS CT-Drafting
Ämne: [Pwd] Finalization of the CS Statement

Dear All

The drafting group has, from all of the posts and previous discussion, the
information concerning the issue of physical and mental health and it will
simply have to make a decision as to whether to:

1. support consistency with the previous CS Declaration, and language of
other UN documents 2. support specificity for successful implementation and
use language which governments recognize in the allocation of resources 3.
recognize that physical and mental health is disconnected (as the Disability
Caucus was unable to cite one country that has physical and mental health as
seamless services of primary care) and therefore requires identification of
both as part of the health section 4. base recommendations on the reality of
the current status of physical and mental health as opposed to wishful
thinking.
5.  recognize that mental health issues are broader and apply to the entire
population and not only the disability community and therefore the broader
context needs to be taken into consideration.
6. respect the expertise of working groups which relate directly to the
substantive matter, especially when others cannot cite information to
support their positions.

I would like to thank the members who are working on the finalization of the
draft, as it is no easy task.  As the decision was to be made this evening,
hopefully this will take place.

Best regards,

Elizabeth

Dr. Elizabeth Carll
Health and ICT Working Group
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; Communications
Coordination Committee for the UN; UN NGO Committee on Mental Health