Why the Citizenship of Person with Mental Problems in the Information Society is Topical Just Now in Finland?

摘要

Mental health problems are a national concern inFinland. People with mental problems often haveproblems understanding their illness and treatment,because the relationship between knowing, learningand psychiatric symptoms is complex. Oneapproach to increase patients' knowledge of theirillness and its treatment is patient-centred care.Today we have information technology which offersmany opportunities on this topic. It is arguedwhether information technology (IT) is a usefulmethod in supporting mental patients'understanding of their situation. A number ofcomputer-based support systems or Internet-basedself-help programs have been developed and testedin different patient groups, but less systematicallywith a group of patients with severe psychiatricproblems. Information technology may have asignificant meaning to help persons with mentalproblems to part as equal members of a society.