WHO guidance on human rights-based mental health services
This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued comprehensive guidance in support of person-centred and human rights-based approaches to mental health services throughout the world. The guidance was the result of research and advice from experts around the world and features case studies of promising services that provide access to mental health services while also supporting human rights.
The WHO explains how “laws and regulations specifically related to mental health have direct and significant impacts on the degree to which people are able to enjoy and exercise their rights.” The guidance provides crucial direction on what BC needs to do to ensure that our mental health laws are evidence-based and support the dignity of the people they are intended to help. Two of the foundational requirements stood out to us at Health Justice as especially important:
Policy makers must actively engage persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities and their organizations in law reform processes in order to ensure that laws and regulations promote and protect their rights and meet their needs and requirements.
Jurisdictions must introduce capacity-building for key stakeholders including decision makers (members of parliament, senators, local, regional and national legislatures etc.) before the initiation of any law reform process so that they understand the history, content, and importance of human rights. This will help support moving away from entrenched ideas and towards a culture of change.
The guidance also includes separate documents that provide examples of services from around the world in six core areas of mental health services: community mental health centres; crisis services; hospital services; outreach; peer support; service networks; and supported living.
The guide on crisis services is particularly illuminating. It includes examples of crisis services that adhere to human rights by providing support without resorting to force or coercion. Examples of these services vary: some involve multi-disciplinary teams that support people in their homes. Others provide support in respite centres that provide community-based, short-term breaks from people’s usual daily lives. Rooted in a human rights-based and recovery approach, the services featured focus on meaningful peer involvement and offering a safe space in which to overcome a crisis.
“All insist on the importance of communication and dialogue with the people experiencing the crisis and understand that the people themselves are experts when it comes to their own care and support needs.”
These guides and case studies of communities creating change provide us with valuable information about how we can support a human rights-based approach to mental health services in BC.
They show us what is possible.