The background reflection of mental health policy in Albania

• Author: Eneida Frashëri - Eris Dhamo
• Position: Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Tirana)
• Pages: 154-161

ISSN 2410-759X

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

Balkan Journal of Interdisciplinary Research

IIPCCL Publishing, Tirana-Albania Vol. 2 No. 1

May, 2016

154

The background reflection of mental health policy in Albania

Eneida Frashëri

Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Tirana)

PhD Eris Dhamo

Faculty of Social Sciences (University of Tirana)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present the transformation of Albanian legal mental

health framework and the respective documents which orient the differences in mental

health service delivery.

The method used for the realization of this paper is the review of the legal documents, as

well as reports and policies applied in Albania after 2002. This research component

aimed to document interventions realized in this country, including the key influences.

A situational analysis of the healthy policy and legal environment in the country was

performed. Data collected by key informant documents were explored and review of

this documents and secondary data from the MoH was made, too. We analyzed this

qualitative data using a framework approach.

Actually Albania has a dedicated mental health policy and mental health action plan.

Analyses reveal that only after 2010 mental health services are integrated part of primary

health services in the country (MoH, 2013). These policies are generally perceived

positively and now the National Steering Committee for Mental Health and the Sector of

Mental Health and Addictology are offering and personalized services.

Mental health policy and legal environment has gone under positive transformation.

The need of promotion and incorporation of family organization and other networks is

critical to conduct a complete therapeutic alliance. It is important to consider the impact

of these changes more broadly, including both direct and indirect outcomes; by establish

a set of quantitative and qualitative indicators which will enable the monitoring of the

quality of care provided in mental health services.

Keywords: Mental health policy, legal environment, mental health treatment, Albania.

Background

In 1999 Albania signed the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and in 2001, the

Pact added health to his agenda as one of the five subject area of its Social Cohesion

Initiative. On May 2002 the mental health Project for south-eastern Europe (SEE)

was established by Albania and 6 other country, along with the Council of Europe,

the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and Greece at a meeting held in Denmark.

The purpose of Mental Health Project for south-eastern Europe was to improve the

mental health of populations by setting up community mental health in region.

The Mental Health Project for south-eastern Europe is organized in political level

(steering committee, representatives from the eight countries, the WHO Regional

Office for Europe, the Council of Europe, the donor countries ) and in managerial

level (Executive committee, Regional project office, country project office with country