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Worldwide, nearly 500 million people suffer from some type of mental illness," Rosalynn Carter wrote in a May editorial published in honor of Mental Health Month.

In July, Mrs. Carter and women leaders from 17 European nations addressed this issue at the Helsinki, Finland, meeting of the International Committee of Women Leaders for World Mental Health. Formed by Mrs. Carter in 1991, the group works to advance the mental health of populations globally and to improve the lives of people with mental illness.

"A recent report released by Harvard Medical School described the state of world mental health as an 'unheralded crisis,' " said John Gates, director of The Carter Center's Mental Health Program. "It is the goal of Mrs. Carter and all committee members to help regions of the world provide the best mental health care possible."

The Carter Center and the World Federation for Mental Health convened the Helsinki meeting on "Mental Health Impact on Families and Society: The Influence of Public Policy, Effective Treatment, and Self-Help Supports." Attendees produced a joint statement outlining key steps to address mental health concerns in each of their countries.

Steps include:

• supporting initiatives that raise awareness of mental health issues,
• helping establish international mental health programs, and
• promoting at least one activity in their respective countries to improve the mental health of citizens.

Co-sponsored by the European Regional Council of the World Federation for Mental Health, the World Health Organization, and the Finnish Association for Mental Health, the meeting served as a forum through which prominent women from countries as diverse as Israel, Poland, and Denmark could meet on common ground.

"Sadly, in some countries, it is still common for mentally ill persons to be shunned to the point of near isolation," said Mrs. Carter, chair of The Carter Center Mental Health Task Force. "We cannot afford to ignore such pain. It is imperative that all nations support and keep mental health at the top of the international agenda."