NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY

The community mental health model implies a bio-psycho-social perspective of mental health/illness issues, as well as a set of values that advocate equity in service access, community treatment, respect for human rights, a recovery vision, promotion of independent living, social integration and user and family participation. In accordance with the priorities set by the European Union, mental health services must guarantee that these principles are applied in the prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and promotion of mental health. Inter-sector cooperation is an essential part of developing transversal policies that ensure society's involvement in mental health promotion. Advances in community mental health indicate the relevance of considering human rights both in policy development and in practice, of the recovery perspective and of the need to promote the participation of user and carer organizations.