Regional Meeting of the Health Network of South Eastern Europe on the results of cooperation in the field of mental health and the Regional Centre for Mental Health was held yesterday in Sarajevo, organized by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs Draženka Malićbegović said at a press conference that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a leader in the field of mental health in south-eastern Europe and it is able to expand our knowledge and experience to other countries in the region.
Chairman of the Executive Board of the SEE Health Network Goran Čerkez explained that the Health Network consists of nine South East European states and Israel and noted with satisfaction that, in the past decade, Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most active countries in the field of mental health.
“It has done much, not only within its own country. A well model of mental health was developed, with more than 65 centers in both BiH entities,” he said.
Experiences from BiH have already been transferred to some of the countries in the region. This is particularly important if one considers that one in four people have a problem with mental health in the course of their life.
Mental health is defined as the potential for economic development of the country because “only a healthy environment can economically develop.”
The project in the field of mental health was financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Matthijs Muijen from the Regional Office of WHO is pleased with the fact that BiH, within its communities, has developed an extensive network in the field of mental health and thus became the leader in the process of improving services in the field of mental health.
“In that sense, the establishment of a regional center for development in the field of mental health, proved to be successful, and it encouraged other SEE countries to follow the example of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said and announced the continuation of cooperation in this, and other areas, from the health sector.
Mental Health Project in South Eastern Europe was the first project of the Health Network
(Source: Fena / photo: Radio Sarajevo)
