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Introduction: Mental Health and Human Rights

This chapter will introduce you to key health and human rights issues facing people with mental disabilities (people with mental health problems and/or intellectual disabilities). Chapter 1, Human Rights in Patient Care will also be of particular relevance to people with mental disabilities.

People with mental disabilities face wide-ranging human rights abuses, such as coerced institutionalization and isolation, stigma and discrimination, and lack of access to education and employment opportunities. This chapter seeks to highlight the range of serious human rights abuses that too often occur within institutions and demonstrate the importance of developing  alternatives to institutional care so that services and support are available to people in their local communities and are responsive to their individual needs. 

The chapter is organized into six sections that answer the following questions:

• How is mental disability a human rights issue?
• What is OSI’s work in the area of mental disability and human rights?
• Which are the most relevant international and regional human rights standards related to mental disability?
• What are some examples of effective human rights programming in the area of mental disability?
• Where can I find additional resources on mental disability and human rights?
• What are key terms related to mental disability and human rights?

As you read through this chapter, consult the glossary of terms found in the last section, What are key terms related to mental disability and human rights?

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