ABSTRACT
It is estimated that approximately 500 m people throughout the world suffer from some form of neurological or psychiatric illness.1 Five of the ten leading causes of disability worldwide, in both developed and developing countries, are major psychiatric illnesses.2 Such illnesses are estimated to account for almost 12% of deaths and lost productivity due to all diseases and injuries globally and, without urgent action, it has been predicted that this figure could, by 2020, rise to 15%.3 Suicide, for example, is believed to account for 400,000 lives each year.4
