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One can judge a country the way it treats its
disabled people - Prof. Wilson
World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation has
enabled meeting of minds from East and West

COVENTRY (UK): Prof. Oliver Wilson is a consultant psychiatrist who is working in Scotland, north of England in UK. He was the founder President of World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and has contributed a great deal in this field. He was in Coventry to attend the Midland Psychiatric Research Group annual meeting held from June 8-10^th 2006. During a dinner hosted by Dr. M. Afzal Javed a Pakistani consultant psychiatrist who is the moving spirit behind the academic activities of Midland Psychiatric Research Group, Prof. Wilson spared some time to talk to “Pulse International” about the accomplishments of World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation. Given below are the excerpts from the conversation:

The Executive Board of World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation had its meeting here recently.  What were the important issues which came under discussion?

It has been a great meeting. It was a meeting of minds of East and West. Sharing ideas about mental illnesses about which we are all concerned. I am indeed happy that this cooperation had taken place. I sincerely hope that this continues in future as well. In the world when there is so much conflict, we think it is extremely important that people in any sphere to cooperate. Mental Health has been so sadly neglected that such cooperation is extremely vital. In every country resources are very inadequately allocated for mental health. Pakistan has shown that some thing can be done though they have not many resources. On our part we are trying to help all other countries.

What has been the achievements of World Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation so far of which you have been a President as well?

We have contributed to the declaration of Human Rights for mentally ill for United Nations Declaration and for European Declaration for Human Rights which have been one of our major contributions. We have cooperated with WHO in various training projects in developing third world poor courtiers. We have also started to have some influence in China which is a great step and all these are major achievements. We have drawn together representatives from many countries including patients’ representatives, consumers as well as professionals’ representatives which are most important.

Would you like to summarize the achievements of World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation so far and what you have been doing all these years?

Drawing attention to the problems of mentally ill, pressurizing the governments to realize that it is economical to spend some money on the treatment and management of mentally ill because mental illness specially depression is one of the biggest drain on the country’s economy. It is silent drain and people do not realize how much time people waste because of anxiety and the money spent on treatment of depression is enormous. It is a burden on economy of the country but it is humanitarian. One can judge a country the way it treats its disabled people.

What has been your special interest in the field of mental health?

My special field has been community care. Treating and helping people to get better at home.