LettersOn World Mental Health Day, let’s make equal access to care a priority
- Readers discuss how mental health inequities can be bridged, and a measure that would help Hong Kong attract talent from overseas
Today is World Mental Health Day, and this year’s theme, set by the World Federation of Mental Health, is “Mental health is a universal right”.
Health injustices and health inequities in mental health are significant; these disparities emerge early, as both biological and societal factors lead to differing opportunities for individuals to achieve good mental health from the earliest stages of life.
This leads to two fundamental issues: one, mental health services often end up focusing on quantity over quality, causing evidence-based interventions to fall by the wayside; and two, remedial measures take precedence over prevention and early intervention. Consequently, care is unavoidably extended primarily to those with severe conditions, leaving many without the help they need.
Understandably, people with severe needs require urgent and timely support; however, this predicament particularly affects those with mild to moderate conditions like anxiety and depression. Without timely and appropriate care, a substantial proportion of these individuals’ conditions worsen over time, further putting pressure on healthcare systems.