Mental health

According to the WHO, mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their potential, learn and work well, and contribute to their community.

As a result, good mental health is essential for quality of life.

Mental illness has an emotional, cognitive, interpersonal and physical impact. Mental illness can be particularly debilitating, affecting quality of life and the ability to work, and often a huge challenge for friends, family and colleagues.

Without effective treatment and care, mental illness can have serious repercussions on a person's life and, in the worst-case scenario, lead to suicide.

The well-being of the population is also intrinsically linked to a country's economic development. The two are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

The National Mental Health Plan

Objectives:

• The plan recommends guidelines for decision-making, and supports targeted planning of the health policy.
• It incorporates the objectives of the 2018-2023 coalition agreement and will take into account the priorities defined by the WHO in a national mental health plan.
• The aim is to put the individual at the centre of any policies and to reinforce health and well-being throughout society.
• It therefore makes an essential contribution to welfare economics that is promising.

Good mental health enables individuals to cope with the stress and burdens of society, to recognise and develop their own skills, to work, to learn and to contribute to society. As a result, mental health is essential for personal, community and socioeconomic development.