COMMITTEE: WHO

COUNTRY: BOLIVIA

AGENDA: MENTAL HEALTH NATIONAL PLAN: PROMOTING

CARE AND TREATMENT

Mental health as stated by WHO, is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope
with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their
community. It is a very important component of life which ensures the survival of a person. In
today’s time, mental health is given a status of an important right that each and every human
deserves irrespective of their caste, colour, creed etc. It is an indispensable part of health and
well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build
relationships and shape the world we live in. People in today's fast-paced society are motivated
by the need to reach new heights and acquire as much as they can, which leads to the disregard
of their mental health. When people compete with one another, they often neglect to live a
healthy lifestyle, which eventually worsens their own health. Apart from this human factor,
there are several other reasons which have threatened the existence of happy and prosperous
mental health. The other factors consist of financial pressures, work-related stress, family
dynamics like conflicts, changes in familial structures etc. The Covid-19 pandemic has also
contributed much to deteriorate the mental health of the people around the world. The
pandemic has exposed the world to the problems of isolation which has resulted in severe
stress and depression. WHO and the healthcare systems of the world give much importance to
the mental factor in well-being and have, therefore, taken stringent measures to ensure that
every individual gets their due right of enjoying a healthy mental health and life. Bolivia as a
country too recognises its importance and considers that only a content and delightful human
being can contribute towards the development of the country. Hence, in recent times the
governmental and non-governmental appratus have taken a few steps to ensure that everyone
has the right to good mental health.

Bolivia is a country in central South America and has a population of around 11 million. Mental
health in Bolivia is considered to be a topic which should not be discussed openly and has often
been regarded as a stigma. Like many other countries of the world, Bolivia is also not free from
the clutches of diminishing psychological state of its citizens. Alcoholism and drug abuse is the
most significant factor which has led to the state of despair of human beings. However, with
the change of time, the state and the administrative mechanisms have taken and continue to
take necessary steps to eradicate the issues tied to this subject. Bolivia has had a universal
health care system since 2007, and since then, all Bolivians have had a constitutional right to
health, which must be provided by the state free of charge, and without discrimination of any
kind. The National Institute of Psychiatry has existed in Bolivia since 1884 and serves as an
important unit for fostering mental health and taking care of the aggrieved. In the year of 1986,
major restructuring and expansion of the institute took place with new units being added and
extra beds incorporated into the hospital structure. Mental health professionals across the
country have developed policies for the prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of
mental health. In 2009, the National Mental Health Plan 2009–2013 was launched as a
response to the lack of public policies on mental health. This plan is intended to guide actions
to promote mental health, support the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of mental
illness, and specialize efforts to benefit the most vulnerable populations. However, despite
these efforts several issues contribute to the failure of these policies. Like many other countries
of Latin America, Bolivia has formulated the policies but there exists a loophole in its making
and implementation. The Government of Bolivia requires consolidated effort of the state, non-
governmental and civil society to fully eradicate this problem.

WHO has committed itself to working for the cause of improved mental health. To achieve this
goal, it has made Mental Health Action Plan to promote well-being and improve mental health
services in countries. To achieve the goals of this plan WHO is working along with the 193
member states so as to make a world of prosperity and happiness. In response to the COVID-19
pandemic, WHO has provided guidance on addressing mental health and psychosocial aspects
of the crisis. This includes resources for individuals, communities, and healthcare providers. In
2015, the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals which are to be achieved
by 2030. Goal no. 3 of these 17 goals aim to promote mental health and well-being for all ages.
The inclusion of this goal serves as proof to the testament that how UN also values mental
health as a means to achieve the end of the overall development of the nation. The United
Nations also from time to time engages in creating awareness and reducing the stigma which
surrounds mental health and diseases. Both the UN and WHO continue to work toward
improving mental health policies, reducing stigma, and promoting access to quality mental
health services on a global scale.
1iBolivia as a country very well recognizes a country with both physically and mentally healthy
strata can take the lead and develop. Therefore, it suggests a few solutions to eradicate issues
related to mental health problem and advocates for the creation of conversation groups within
cities which should be funded by the states and should meet once a week. It suggests that each
and every state should make a mental health program which should be implemented within the
premises of their jurisdiction and that special organizations should also be created to make sure
that its implementation takes place. It also calls for WHO to specify the ratio of psychiatrists,
psychologists and counsellors who are to be present in each country and state after examining

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their demography and population numbers so that work could be done to increase them if
there is a dearth of these professionals. It also calls for a need to introduce a subject in the
school curriculum which could help in sensitising students about mental health from a young
age so that these children who become the youth of tomorrow could do their bit by not
considering it a stigma and also educating those around them. Bolivia ultimately wishes for a
world where everyone is free from the shackles of sorrow and sadness and lives a life of
happiness and prosperity.ii

i
ii
https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.hih.gov
https://www.ohchr.org
https://www3.paho.org
https://borgenproject.org