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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Strategy for development of mental health protection to improve patient's quality of life

Belgrade, 24 January 2007

Serbian Assistant Minister of Health Snezana Simic said today that the aim of the Strategy for development of mental health protection, adopted by the Serbian government last week, is to improve the prevention and quality of life of patients.

Snezana Simic, left, and Dusica Lecic-Tosevski

Author: Tanjug

Speaking at a press conference at which the Strategy was presented, Simic said that €12.5 million will be set aside this year from the National Investment Plant for reconstruction of in-patient clinics for treatment of mental diseases.

She explained that the Strategy envisages individualisation and humanisation of the treatment, prevention and improvement of mental health as part of the national policy, as well as reform of psychiatric services in association with other state institutions.

Chairman of the National Commission for Mental Health Dusica Lecic-Tosevski said that the state of mental health in Serbia is not much different than in other countries in Europe and the world, but added that still there are differences due to permanent stress and consequences of the wars.

Disorders caused by stress, depression, abuse of substances, suicides and poorer quality of life in general are on the increase everywhere in the world, including Serbia, Lecic-Tosevski said and added that from 1999 to 2002 the number of mental disorders increased by 13%.

She announced that €40 million will be set aside for the opening of an adolescent hospital at the Mental Health Institute and it will be the first of its kind in the region. Lecic-Tosevski added that the mental health strategy will guarantee better conditions for medical treatment, as well as more funds for prevention and treatment.

According to Lecic-Tosevski, the aim is to reduce a huge sociological, as well as economical burden to society. Implementation of the Strategy will enable protection of patients and more humane conditions for working with experts.

Lecic-Tosevski recalled that the Strategy was highly assessed by representatives of the World Health Organisation and was recommended to other countries as a model strategy.