Minister of Health Bent Hie admits that health care services for the mentally ill have not been good enough. Meanwhile, those struggling with mentall illness must not be stigmatized - they must not be reluctant to ask for help, Hie says. "The current health care services are not good enough. Therefore I want to make mental health and drug abuse a priority in the time ahead," Hie tells NRK.

According to NRK, 102 persons were murdered by people who suffered from mental illness between 2003 and 2013.

"When 102 out of 228 murders have been committed by persons who suffer from serious mental illness, it is a sign that we are not good enough at preventing severe criminal acts committed by this group. I think and believe that several of these murders could have been prevented if the health care system had taken more responsibility for the mentally ill and offered them better services," says Erik Nadheim, Director of the Council for Crime Prevention (Det kriminalitetsforebyggende rd).

Hie promises that the government wil invest more in mental health.

"We have already started to expand the health care services that are offered in the municipalities." More money will be invested, and the money that has already been allocated to Norwegian hospitals will be re-prioritized, Hie explains.

However, the Minister of Health is worried that too much focus on mental health and its combination with murders and violence can also make matters worse. He warns of the effect it may have on the challenges associated with mental illness.

"Those who are ill must not hesitate to seek help," he says. "It is important to avoid that people who suffer from mental illness are stigmatized. We need openness so that everybody who needs it can seek help at an early stage," Hie tells NRK.

(NRK)

Tuesday, 28 January 2014 21:29

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-Mental health care services are not good enough, says Hie