Development of mental health system in Azerbaijan

The article describes the main stages of development of mental health system in Azerbaijan. The first «mental health institution» with 30 beds in Azerbaijan appeared in 1892 in the city of Baku. The need for expansion of mental health care, associated with the intensive growth of the population of the capital, led to the increase in the number of beds to 60, and in the beginning of the twentieth century another 60-bed psychiatric hospital was founded. After the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan in the mid-1920s, the leadership of health care discussed the issues of organization of psychiatric care in the country. One of proposals was to create psycho-neurological institute and the colony for 150 mentally ill. In 1960s due to introduction of new therapeutic methods of treatment, more opportunities to treat patients on an outpatient basis appeared. In 1990s the decline of traditional mental health service occured. Currently in Azerbaijan a large-scale reform in the field of mental health is implemented. Protection of the rights of mentally ill, creating a modern community-based services, human resources development, participation in international research in the field of mental health are among priorities.

mental health, reform, human resources potential