Two themes seem to emerge repeatedly when reading through this volume. One is 'consensus' and the other is 'search'. There was a strong consensus during the Congress that children and families were the major and foremost concern of all present, regardless of their geographic origin or professional background. This concern was often expressed in terms of commitment to or as goal for the international mental health movement for the years to come. The second theme, 'search', represents an effort to translate this concern into activities: search for concrete, immediate goals, for ways and means...

It is not easy for a layman to attract attention to a book like this. Most who open the cover will be professionals in one of the many aspects of mental health. A moment's thought tells us, however, that if there is a distinction between laymen and professionals it makes no difference to a book like this. Both laymen and professionals care about what will be. That is why this book, the Congress it reports and the World Federation for Mental Health itself can be meaningful to both laymen and professional people. A look into the 80's from the point of view of mental health, cultural values and...

It is not easy for a layman to attract attention to a book like this. Most who open the cover will be professionals in one of the many aspects of mental health. A moment's thought tells us, however, that if there is a distinction between laymen and professionals it makes no difference to a book like this. Both laymen and professionals care about what will be. That is why this book, the Congress it reports and the World Federation for Mental Health itself can be meaningful to both laymen and professional people. A look into the 80's from the point of view of mental health, cultural values and...

The publication of this volume is significant in three respects. First, it represents a major concern of the international mental health movement in its effort to gain deeper understanding of migration and its mental health implications in our increasingly mobile modern societies. Second, it epitomizes continuous international cooperation of colleagues dedicated to the cause of tackling this important mental health problem. Third, it stands as another milestone in the growth of the World Federation for Mental Health through its biennial world congresses. I sincerely hope that the empirical...

The initial impetus for this volume was the occasion of the World Congress for Mental Health held in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1977. The theme of that congress was priorities in mental health. The keynote speaker Mrs. Rosalynn Carter, wife of the then President of the United States, focused attention on the necessity for an international perspective in understanding priorities for mental health. Without exception subsequent speakers echoed the sentiments Mrs. Carter expressed, that the first priority for mental health was that of children. For many participants the concern for children...

Two themes seem to emerge repeatedly when reading through this volume. One is 'consensus' and the other is 'search'. There was a strong consensus during the Congress that children and families were the major and foremost concern of all present, regardless of their geographic origin or professional background. This concern was often expressed in terms of commitment to or as goal for the international mental health movement for the years to come. The second theme, 'search', represents an effort to translate this concern into activities: search for concrete, immediate goals, for ways and means...