Mental health and human rights are related. Human rights are crucial for everyone’s well-being, including mental health. It’s not just right, but also vital for excellent mental health. When these rights are broken, it can make mental health problems worse.
This article looks at how human rights and
mental health are intertwined. It talks about the necessity of using human
rights to fight mental health challenges.
It discusses the rights of persons with mental
disorders and how advocacy helps everyone obtain the mental health treatment they
need. It highlights how crucial it is to combine human rights with mental
health to establish a better society.
Mental health and human rights
Mental health is recognized as a fundamental
human right, and the link between mental health and human rights is
bidirectional: respecting human rights promotes greater mental health, whereas
the abuse of human rights negatively affects mental health.
People with mental health disorders often
experience human rights breaches such as discrimination, exclusion from
communal activity, and coercive practices like forced treatment.
A human rights-based approach is crucial for
ensuring dignity, justice, and access to adequate treatment for everyone,
according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mental Health: What Is It?
ِAlthough we talk about mental health and human rights, we will
start our talk about how mental health encompasses social, psychological, and
emotional well-being, influencing feelings, ideas, and actions. It vitally
affects stress management, relationships, and decision-making, with mental and
physical health interrelated for total well-being. For example, depression not
only impacts mental health but also heightens the chance of physical health
difficulties like diabetes or stroke.
Different variables, including individual,
societal, and structural influences, might enhance or undermine mental
well-being. Acknowledging the connection between mental health and total health
highlights the need for preventative efforts and adopting a humanised approach
through partnership.
What Are Human Rights?
The main topic is about mental health and human
rights, but here we will talk about human rights only.
Human rights are universal rights and freedoms
and include the right to life, the right to freedom, and the right to liberty
and security.
They underline universality, inalienability,
indivisibility, interconnection, and non-discrimination. Regardless of
nationality, gender, religion, language, or ethnicity, human rights are
relevant worldwide.
Originating from the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, these principles create the framework for
subsequent conventions, treaties, and legal instruments. Accountability and
adherence to the law require legal organizations and persons to comply with
human rights, allowing avenues for punishment in cases of infringement.
In the UK, public authorities are required by
law to treat people with equality, decency, fairness, and respect under the
Human Rights Act of 1998.
The Act comprises 16 rights, each referred to as
an ‘article’. This legal framework protects all UK residents, including
migrants and immigrants, allowing individuals to pursue claims against public
authorities that fail to preserve their human rights.
The human right to mental health
The right to the best achievable quality of
health, which includes mental health, is articulated in human rights frameworks
like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This implies everyone, regardless of their
mental health condition, should have access to adequate mental health treatment
and be included in choices about their own health.
The impact of human rights abuses on mental
health
- Discrimination and stigma: Misconceptions about mental
illness can exacerbate mental health issues or discourage people from
getting treatment because they cause stigma, discrimination, and social
isolation.
- Exclusion from community life: Individuals with mental
health disorders may not be allowed to live freely and participate in
their communities, which can negatively affect their social and financial
well-being.
- Coercive practices: In some institutions, infractions
might include forcible admission, forced therapy, and seclusion, which
undermine an individual's autonomy and can be a form of abuse.
- Denial of fundamental rights: Violations can also
entail the denial of essential rights such as housing, education, and
work, creating a cycle of adversity that badly impacts mental health.
A human rights-based approach to mental
health
- Promoting dignity and empowerment: This approach
ensures that individuals with mental health conditions are treated with
respect, dignity without bias. It allows people to take control over their
lives and treatment options.
- Improving access to care: It involves creating systems
that provide accessible, affordable, and appropriate care, including
psychosocial interventions and rehabilitation.
Mental health and human rights plus employment
Example: A person with depression is made fun of
by coworkers due to his handicap. His coworkers and management also
continuously ask him about the sorts of drugs he is taking. According to the
Human Rights Code, this can be considered harassment.
Employers have an obligation to meet the
requirements of persons with mental health disorders and addictions to the
point of undue hardship.
You may get additional information about mental
health and employment here:
- Mental illness may be a taboo subject in our culture
and our work. People with mental health disorders and addictions may be
subjected to stereotypes based on irrational fear, leading to feelings of
stigma.
- They might also confront structural hurdles when
seeking acquire job. Workers may experience feelings of loneliness and
exclusion at work, which may be exacerbated by additional obstacles to human
rights, such as racism, sexism, ageism, or homophobia.
- If you are fired, denied a job, or denied a promotion
because of a mental health condition or addiction, you are protected
against discrimination under the Human Rights Code. Additionally, you are
sheltered from:
- Workplace harassment.
- Human Rights in the Workplace
- Drug and alcohol testing policies
- Employees with mental illness are protected by the
Ontario Divisional Court.
Housing and mental health
Negative attitudes and assumptions that lead to
marginalization and discrimination make it difficult for people with addictions
and mental health issues to rent a home or apartment. Landlords and housing
providers cannot deny a person accommodation solely because the individual has,
or is thought to have, a mental health impairment or addiction.
Additionally, housing providers are required to
make accommodations for those with addictions or mental health disabilities.
For example, if someone disturbs other tenants
due to conduct connected to a mental health condition, the landlord must take
measures to engage with the tenant to address the person’s impairment before
evicting the tenant.
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