COMMITTEE: World Health Organization (WHO)

AGENDA: Mental health action plan: promoting care and treatment

NAME: Manaswini KV
Delegate of Portugal

When pondering over health as a holistic concept, we deem to understand that the term
does not refrain only to physical well-being but also to mental and social welfare. All three
components of health are interlinked with each other. Over the years, enough attention has
been given to physical and social well-being, and it is believed to continue to exist further.
Mental health, on the other hand, has been looked down upon as an element of
embarrassment formerly rather than as an element which could elevate physical and social
welfare of the people. Mental health has only become a rising concern ever since the world
was hit by the pandemic in 2020 and almost everyone in the world were held captive inside
their home. It was extremely difficult for all of us to cope with the new change, which
effected our economic and social well-being. And that, is the very first time we begin to
introspect mental health as a significant factor.
Native to famous football players like Cristiano Ronaldo to the man who circumnavigated the
earth to the current Secretary-General of the United Nations, world’s largest cork producer,
home to Port wine, land obsessed with codfish, Portugal has boasted notable people who
have transformed the field of professions they belong to. However, according to Eurostat,
Portugal has the highest proportion of women reporting chronic depression in the EU, and
the sixth-highest level of men. Furthermore, studies show that around 57% of the
Portuguese population presents some psychological distress. Indeed, mental health
disorders surpass oncological diseases in the country. Unfortunately, there’s still some
mental health stigma among the Portuguese and discrimination in Portugal. The stigma
among people stems from preconceived ideas that don’t match reality, but which have been
perpetuated given the lack of quality information available.
Globally, awareness in terms of mental health has increased since the pandemic. This has
become possible due to intricate measures taken up by international organisations. The
United for Global Mental Health Organization has

SOLUTIONS:
 MM
REFERENCES:
Mental health
Portugal on Mental health