Addressing the burden of mental, neurological and substance use disorders: key messages from Disease Control Priorities, 3rd edition – summary

Abstract

The prevalence of mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders increased by 41% between 1990 and 2010 and became to date one of the fundamental causes of the global disease burden. This sobering statistic does not take into account the substantial excess mortality associated with these disorders or the social and economic consequences of MNS disorders on affected persons, their caregivers, and society. A wide variety of effective interventions, including drugs, psychological treatments, social interventions, as well as population- and community level interventions can prevent and treat MNS disorders. At the population-level platform of service delivery, effective interventions include legislative measures to restrict access to means of self-harm or suicide and to reduce the availability of and demand for alcohol. At the community-level platform, best practices include life-skills training in schools to build social and emotional competencies. At individual level, the following types of interventions are offered: self-management,