There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone's business.
Vikram PatelRead
It is easy to lay the blame on successive governments for failing to address health as a fundamental right for the Indian people. But the real tragedy is that we, the people of India, have not taken our government to task for this catastrophic failure.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the responsibility of citizens in holding their government accountable for health rights.
Vikram Patel emphasizes that while it is convenient to blame successive governments for neglecting the health rights of the Indian populace, the greater tragedy lies in the passive stance of the citizens. He calls for active engagement from the people to demand accountability and action from their leaders in addressing health as a fundamental right.
In practice
In a public health discussion, this quote can emphasize the need for community action.
There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone's business.
In many parts of the world, chaining of people with mental illnesses is not uncommon, nor is seeing people walking around in clearly an unwell state, half naked, and no one takes any notice of them. It is tragic. There is a basic human right, which is not about just healthcare, but it is about the right to life with dignity, a right to citizenship.
Mental health can improve overall well-being and prevent other illnesses. And since mental health problems have a serious economic impact on vulnerable communities, making them a priority can save lives and markedly improve people's quality of life.
Most aid agencies do not even consider proposals to treat mental health problems; those that do think of it as a minor player, overshadowed by the pressing need to save lives by treating physical illness.
Americans whisper the word Alzheimer's because their government whispers the word Alzheimer's. And although a whisper is better than the silence that the Alzheimer's community has been facing for decades, it's still not enough. It needs to be yelled and screamed to the point that it finally gets the attention and the funding that it deserves and needs.
It is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance.
I recommend the same therapies for all humans with HIV. There is no reason to believe that physiologic responses to therapy will vary across lines of class, culture, race or nationality.
A wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession.
Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.
Early detection is key," she said. "And if I hadn't found my lump early, I don't know what would have been. I am still here and I want to encourage women to do that on a regular basis.
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