Rehabilitation is carried out in hostels, cooperatives, sheltered workshops and through social support groups. PAHO fully supports these initiatives where they exist. As with physical disorders, mental and brain disorders vary in severity. The best alternative will depend on each individual and in any situation human rights must be preserved. The myths surrounding mental health problems are responsible for terrible shame and contribute to low levels of treatment.
Mental illness is one of the major afflictions of mankind that has had little support in the past.
During the last half century there has been quite a revolution in the understanding and treatment of major mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, manic depression and anxiety.