Summary: Since the deadly shooting in Sandy Hook, politicians and public health experts have called for a re-examination of how this country deals with mental illness. But mental health issues aren’t just a problem for wealthy nations. The World Health Organization says that depression affects some 350 million people around the world. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide and a majority of those people affected by depression live in countries with limited access to mental health care. One organization, Partners in Health, is trying to develop a model for providing better access to mental health services in the developing world. We’ll talk with Dr. David Grelotti, a psychiatrist and fellow with Partners in Health who has been working in Haiti and Lesotho and Dr. Stephanie Smith. She’s the director of the Partners in Health Rwanda Program and she’s been helping the Rwandan Ministry of Health develop their treatment programs.
