The ‘dignity’ of people with mental health conditions should be respected

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One should be mindful of the fact that the arrival of the National Mental Health Week this October made no difference for those people who are suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and other mental health conditions.

In an online press release, World Health Organization (WHO) stressed that people with mental health conditions are deprived of their human rights, discriminated against, and subjected to emotional and physical abuse.

WHO explained that mental health is a state where an individual realizes his/her abilities, copes with normal stresses of life, works productively, and makes contributions to one’s community. However, people’s mental health suffers due to reasons such as rapid social change, stressful work conditions, discrimination, unhealthy lifestyle, and human rights violations.

WHO also pointed out that the dignity of people with mental health conditions is not respected. While they are suffering from their mental conditions, they are also locked up in institutions, subjected to various types of abuses, denied access to basic services, deprived of their right to make their own decisions, or prevented from participating fully in society.

With the theme “Dignity in mental health,” this year’s celebration aims to raise awareness of the ways to ensure that people with mental health conditions can continue to live with dignity through human-oriented policy and law, training of health professionals, and public information campaigns.

Dignity, which is understood as person’s innate value or worth, can be attained through respect and recognition, WHO explained. Emphasizing that dignity is needed to achieve mental health, WHO emphasized that people with mental health conditions should be given freedom from violence and discrimination, inclusion in community life, and participation in policy and decision making.

WHO also stresses the importance of providing them with community-based services. For more information about the National Mental Health Week 2015, visit http://www.who.int/mental_health/world-mental-health-day/2015_infosheet/en/. You can also access http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/ to find out more about facts on mental health. ■