Human Rights and Mental Health

Users of mental health services are at extremely high risk of human rights abuses. Across Europe, thousands of people with mental health problems spend many years, or their entire lives, isolated in institutions. While the quality of life in institutions varies, they all deny people with mental health problems the right to live included in the community and in society. Too often people with mental health problems living in institutions are also victims of serious human rights violations.

In addition, the stigma attached to mental health problems that leads to discrimination is still widespread. In many cases - access to employment, health and social services, education/training, housing, transport, leisure activities, etc. - people with mental health problems suffer from a lack of equal opportunities as a result of discrimination.

A Eurobarometer study in the EU-15 Member States in 2003 found that people with mental health problems were most likely to be perceived as not having "the same chance of getting a job, training or promotion" as anyone else.

EU developments

A landmark treaty was adopted in December 2006 by the UN General Assembly. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first legally-binding Convention which protects and promotes the rights of people with disabilities, including those with psycho-social disabilities (mental health problems) or intellectual disabilities.

To read more about EU developments, click here

MHE key activities in this field

Given that the stigma attached to mental health problems that leads to discrimination is still prevalent and wide ranging, non-discrimination activities are a crucial part of MHE's work in the field of human rights.

MHE was involved in a EU wide study on multiple discrimination. The study, 'Tackling multiple discrimination - Practices, policies and laws ' was commissioned by the European Commission and carried out by the Danish Institute for Human Rights .

To read more about MHE activities in the field of human rights, click here

MHE collaboration with the Council of Europe

MHE collaboration with the Council of Europe (CoE) and, in particular, with the INGOs of the Council of Europe (International Non Governmental Organisations enjoying participatory status with the Council of Europe) is longstanding.

The Council of Europe is, indeed, a driving force as regards the adoption of instruments protecting the dignity and human rights of people with mental health problems: the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being, with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine; Recommendation 1235 on Psychiatry and Human Rights; Recommendation concerning the Protection of the Human Rights and Dignity of Persons with Mental Disorders; European Social Charter; etc.

To read more about MHE collaboration with the Council of Europe, click here

MHE contact person

For more information on these issues, please contact Roselyne Bourgon, Human Rights Officer at MHE Secretariat:

Email gabor.petri@mhe-sme.org

The MHE Committee on Mental Health and Human Rights

The Committee, set up in 2004, aims at reacting on various documents relating to human rights issues concerning people with mental health problems, assessing the human rights situation of people with mental health problems on request of member associations, formulating position papers on certain matters that MHE wishes to bring to the attention of policy makers and other stakeholders, as well as supporting and liaising with other European NGOs active in the field of human rights (the European Disability Forum - EDF, the Social Platform, etc.).

The Committee is composed of members from at least four European countries and representatives of member organisations and individual members having proven expertise in the area of mental health and human rights. The Committee also includes at least one member of the MHE Board.

Members of the Committee meet once a year, generally on the occasion of the MHE General Assembly and/or Annual Conference. This yearly meeting represents an opportunity to assess the Committee's achievements, debate on current relevant topics, as well as decide on new activities and actions to undertake.

Chair: Josée Van Remoortel

Coordinator: Gabor Petri, MHE Human Rights Officer

For more information on the Committee on Mental Health and Human Rights: click here

MHE position papers and documents

MHE Statement on the occasion of the NGO meeting with Deputy High Commissioner Kyung-wha Kang of the United Nations, Brussels, 14 April 2010

MHE Position Paper on "the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their mental health status: human rights for all!" on the occasion of the Fundamental Rights Conference, jointly organised by the Swedish EU Presidency and the Fundamental Rights Agency (10 December 2009)

MHE Position Paper "Poverty and Mental Health in the EU: a Human Rights issue" written on the occasion of MHE Awareness raising event at the European Parliament (30 November 2009). Policy background available here.

MHE IPPF Joint Press Release on the Lithuanian law on Protection of Minors and Public information

MHE position paper on the Council of Europe Action Plan to promote the rights and full participation of people with disabilities in society: Improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in Europe 2006-2015

MHE Press release related to its open letter sent to members of EPP Group at the European Parliament calling on them to adopt the European Parliament report on the directive proposal in the field of non discrimination beyond employment

MHE letter to Members of European Parliament in support of the written declaration on the protection of human rights in closed institutions

MHE contribution to the elaboration of the Fundamental Rights Agency Work Programme 2010

Reporting activity on the European Social Charter

Reports on the sessions of the Council of Europe INGOs

MHE contribution to the European Parliament draft report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union 2004-2007 (October 2007)

Final Results of the MHE Survey on Personal Budget (March 2007)

MHE recommendations on patients' access to information (December 2006)

MHE Reaction to the MDRI report about mistreatment of children in Romanian mental institutions (June 2006)