Global Mental Health

Abstract

Although the contributors to this volume are sympathetic to many of the goals of the Movement for Global Mental Health, we are also of the view that its agenda at the time of publication is based upon a number of problematic assumptions, that it may serve unacknowledged interests, and that in some respects it might even have harmful consequences. In the introduction we focus on the problematic assumptions that “mental disorders” can clearly be identified; that they are primarily of biological origin; that the world is currently facing an “epidemic” of mental disorders; that the most appropriate treatments for them normally involve psychopharmaceutical drugs; and that local or indigenous therapies are of little interest or importance. We also question the value of “scaling up” mental health services, as advocated by the Movement for Global Mental Health, and conclude by summarising the structure of the book, with brief comments on the various essays.