Here is a very interesting note from WHO on the rights of persons with mental disorders and that starts with a simple observation but we are constantly to report here: "people with mental illness are victims of violations of their human rights, stigma and discrimination." It WHO says so!
WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
December 7, 2005 - Information Note No. 1
Worldwide, people with mental disorders suffer violation of their human rights, stigma and discrimination. To resolve this problem, WHO urges governments to:
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES, PLANS, LAW AND SERVICES TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS
- policies and laws relating to mental health can be an effective way to prevent human rights violations and discrimination, and promote the autonomy and freedom of persons with mental disorders.
- However, many countries fail to implement them. 40% of countries, for example, have no policy mental health and 64% of countries have no legislation on mental health or have one that is more than 10 years.
- Even when policies and laws on mental health are available, many of them focus mainly on the internment of people with mental disorders in psychiatric institutions and does not concern the protection of their fundamental rights.
• Countries should adopt policies, laws and appropriate mental health services promote the rights of persons with mental disorders, giving them the opportunity to make choices in their lives, ensuring protection Legal and ensuring their integration and full participation in the community.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH OF GOOD QUALITY
- 450 million people worldwide suffer from mental, neurological and behavioral problems, but most of them lack access to treatment and appropriate mental health care.
- 30% of countries have no specific budget for mental health. Among those who have a specific budget, 20% spend less than 1% of their total health budget on mental health.
- Some countries do not have appropriate services, while in other countries, services are only available for certain population groups.
- 32% of countries have no community care services defined as "all types of care, supervision and rehabilitation of patients outside the hospital by health professionals and social workers in the community" .
- There is considerable variation in the number of psychiatrists from more than 10 per 100 000 to less than 1 300 000 .- Worldwide, 68.6% of beds in psychiatric hospitals psychiatric rather than in general hospitals or other community centers.
• Governments should increase their investment in the field of mental health. In addition, mental health professionals should receive adequate training on mental health at all levels of care.
• Large institutions, which are often associated with human rights violations, should be replaced by community care centers, strengthened by psychiatric beds in general hospitals and home care.
GUARD AGAINST INHUMAN AND DEGRADING
- People living in mental health facilities are often subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.
- They are sometimes put in seclusion or restraints for long periods.
- Many of them are over-medicated to keep them docile and "manageable".
- People with mental disorders are often considered to lack the ability to make decisions in their own interest. Many of them are admitted inappropriately in mental health facilities against their will and treatments are administered without consent.
- In some schools, people living in unhygienic conditions, lacking clothes, clean water, food, heating, clean bedding or sanitary facilities. •
free and informed consent should be the mainstay of treatment and rehabilitation for most persons with mental disorders. People should be consulted and involved in decisions about their treatment and care.
• Inappropriate use of isolation and stress should be declared illegal.
• People have the right to live in conditions that respect and promote their dignity. They have the right to adequate food and clothing appropriate to conditions of hygiene and basic safety, stimulation, including recreational, educational and professional, confidentiality, respect for privacy, to access to information, freedom of communication.
• Patients should be informed of their rights when interacting with mental health services and information should be transmitted so that patients are able to understand them.
• Legal mechanisms and oversight bodies must be put in place to protect people against inhuman and degrading treatment, including involuntary admissions arbitrary and inappropriate treatments. People should also make use of complaints mechanisms in cases of violations of fundamental rights.
ENGAGING USERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THEIR FAMILIES
- As recipients of mental health services, people with mental disorders and their families, are those most directly affected by issues related to mental health. Also, their views and their involvement in decisions and mental health activities are they essential to allow their needs are met and that their rights are respected.
- In some countries, users of mental health services and family organizations play a fundamental role and extremely active regarding all issues of mental health.
- However, in most countries, users of mental health services and their families are totally excluded from all matters related mental health.
• Governments should encourage participation in the decision process of users of mental health services and their families by supporting the creation and / or strengthening of groups representing their interests.
• Individuals or groups representing the interests of users of mental health services and their families are best placed to identify problems, identify their needs and help find solutions to improve mental health in countries. It is therefore essential that they participate in the design and implementation policies, plans, laws and services.
CHANGING ATTITUDES AND AWARENESS
- The stigma, myths and misconceptions surrounding mental illness are barriers to treatment. The fear of being despised prevents people with mental disorders and their families access to care and support they need.
- The stigma associated with mental disorders also leads to discrimination and violations of fundamental rights. Worldwide, people with disabilities face social discrimination in the areas of employment, health, education, housing and education. Many of them are denied basic rights such as voting, marriage rights and the right to bear children.
• Much of the stigma surrounding mental illness could be avoided by changing habits and awareness of public opinion to the fact that mental disorders are treatable.
• Ministries of Health and representatives or organizations of users of mental health services, groups of families, health professionals, NGOs, academic institutions and other parties stakeholders all have important roles to play. All should unite their efforts to educate the public and change attitudes towards mental health and promote the human rights of persons with mental disorders.
• The fight against stigma and discrimination is not only the ministries of health. It requires a multisectoral approach undertaken in various sectors - education, labor, social justice, among others.
WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
December 7, 2005 - Information Note No. 1
Worldwide, people with mental disorders suffer violation of their human rights, stigma and discrimination. To resolve this problem, WHO urges governments to:
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES, PLANS, LAW AND SERVICES TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS
- policies and laws relating to mental health can be an effective way to prevent human rights violations and discrimination, and promote the autonomy and freedom of persons with mental disorders.
- However, many countries fail to implement them. 40% of countries, for example, have no policy mental health and 64% of countries have no legislation on mental health or have one that is more than 10 years.
- Even when policies and laws on mental health are available, many of them focus mainly on the internment of people with mental disorders in psychiatric institutions and does not concern the protection of their fundamental rights.
• Countries should adopt policies, laws and appropriate mental health services promote the rights of persons with mental disorders, giving them the opportunity to make choices in their lives, ensuring protection Legal and ensuring their integration and full participation in the community.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH OF GOOD QUALITY
- 450 million people worldwide suffer from mental, neurological and behavioral problems, but most of them lack access to treatment and appropriate mental health care.
- 30% of countries have no specific budget for mental health. Among those who have a specific budget, 20% spend less than 1% of their total health budget on mental health.
- Some countries do not have appropriate services, while in other countries, services are only available for certain population groups.
- 32% of countries have no community care services defined as "all types of care, supervision and rehabilitation of patients outside the hospital by health professionals and social workers in the community" .
- There is considerable variation in the number of psychiatrists from more than 10 per 100 000 to less than 1 300 000 .- Worldwide, 68.6% of beds in psychiatric hospitals psychiatric rather than in general hospitals or other community centers.
• Governments should increase their investment in the field of mental health. In addition, mental health professionals should receive adequate training on mental health at all levels of care.
• Large institutions, which are often associated with human rights violations, should be replaced by community care centers, strengthened by psychiatric beds in general hospitals and home care.
GUARD AGAINST INHUMAN AND DEGRADING
- People living in mental health facilities are often subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.
- They are sometimes put in seclusion or restraints for long periods.
- Many of them are over-medicated to keep them docile and "manageable".
- People with mental disorders are often considered to lack the ability to make decisions in their own interest. Many of them are admitted inappropriately in mental health facilities against their will and treatments are administered without consent.
- In some schools, people living in unhygienic conditions, lacking clothes, clean water, food, heating, clean bedding or sanitary facilities. •
free and informed consent should be the mainstay of treatment and rehabilitation for most persons with mental disorders. People should be consulted and involved in decisions about their treatment and care.
• Inappropriate use of isolation and stress should be declared illegal.
• People have the right to live in conditions that respect and promote their dignity. They have the right to adequate food and clothing appropriate to conditions of hygiene and basic safety, stimulation, including recreational, educational and professional, confidentiality, respect for privacy, to access to information, freedom of communication.
• Patients should be informed of their rights when interacting with mental health services and information should be transmitted so that patients are able to understand them.
• Legal mechanisms and oversight bodies must be put in place to protect people against inhuman and degrading treatment, including involuntary admissions arbitrary and inappropriate treatments. People should also make use of complaints mechanisms in cases of violations of fundamental rights.
ENGAGING USERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THEIR FAMILIES
- As recipients of mental health services, people with mental disorders and their families, are those most directly affected by issues related to mental health. Also, their views and their involvement in decisions and mental health activities are they essential to allow their needs are met and that their rights are respected.
- In some countries, users of mental health services and family organizations play a fundamental role and extremely active regarding all issues of mental health.
- However, in most countries, users of mental health services and their families are totally excluded from all matters related mental health.
• Governments should encourage participation in the decision process of users of mental health services and their families by supporting the creation and / or strengthening of groups representing their interests.
• Individuals or groups representing the interests of users of mental health services and their families are best placed to identify problems, identify their needs and help find solutions to improve mental health in countries. It is therefore essential that they participate in the design and implementation policies, plans, laws and services.
CHANGING ATTITUDES AND AWARENESS
- The stigma, myths and misconceptions surrounding mental illness are barriers to treatment. The fear of being despised prevents people with mental disorders and their families access to care and support they need.
- The stigma associated with mental disorders also leads to discrimination and violations of fundamental rights. Worldwide, people with disabilities face social discrimination in the areas of employment, health, education, housing and education. Many of them are denied basic rights such as voting, marriage rights and the right to bear children.
• Much of the stigma surrounding mental illness could be avoided by changing habits and awareness of public opinion to the fact that mental disorders are treatable.
• Ministries of Health and representatives or organizations of users of mental health services, groups of families, health professionals, NGOs, academic institutions and other parties stakeholders all have important roles to play. All should unite their efforts to educate the public and change attitudes towards mental health and promote the human rights of persons with mental disorders.
• The fight against stigma and discrimination is not only the ministries of health. It requires a multisectoral approach undertaken in various sectors - education, labor, social justice, among others.
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