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

All across the WHO European Region, people with mental health problems are working to raise awareness, tackle stigma and support each other. Vahid could well be forgiven for resenting the attitudes he encountered in his fellow workers, mental health staff and the community after his war-time experiences. Instead, he used the negative messages for campaigning.

Vahid decided to set up his own campaigning organization, called Fenix (Phoenix), a very well-chosen name. The activities are strikingly positive: supporting others but also informing the public and working with the press and television. The community’s apparent receptiveness to Fenix’ activities is also impressive.

Vahid received a lot of support from his family, particularly his wife, whose great efforts kept him out of hospital. Families must cope with the tough reality of living with a mental health problem, including the stigma and discrimination. This is a success story, including the many friends Vahid made. He seems to have followed the advice to be “persistent and annoying“, and has attracted the necessary resources to create a wonderful enterprise. I hope he keeps going, and informs us about progress

Dr Matt Muijen, Regional Adviser, Mental Health, WHO/Europe.