Comment le témoignage de Tatjana peut-il influencer l’élaboration des politiques de la santé mentale ?

This piece develops in unexpected ways. It starts on a gloomy note, describing the disability due to the obsessions, the inertia and dreams, and the arthritis makes the situation worse. The struggle with the PhD comes a no surprise. Then everything changes. Not just because of religion and spirituality, or psychiatric support and self help groups, but it appears that Tatiana made the decision to take control. Suddenly everything changed, while remaining aware of her limitations. She found a sensible job, and took part in an exciting international seminar. It must have taken lots of courage.

We can achieve a lot, if we can find the optimal balance for ourselves between internal and external resources. Psychiatry and self help groups are part of that balance, but only if we know how we want them to contribute to our own goals. This may be one way of describing recovery, and this is another story about hope and courage. I wish I could meet one day the authors of so many of these pieces!

Dr Matt Muijen, Regional Adviser, Noncommunicable Diseases and Environment, WHO/Europe