Action Platform for the Rights in Mental Health

Between May 2015 and May 2016, the Hellenic League for Human Rights actively participated in the “Action Platform for the Rights in Mental Health”, a project for human rights in mental health. The Society for Social Psychiatry and Mental Health (EKPSY) and the Institute of Mental Health for Children and Adults, also participated in the project, together with the Hellenic League for Human Rights.

The project aimed to raise awareness of the issue of rights violations in mental health, to open up a dialogue on ways of addressing reported violations, and to provide practical help to people facing discrimination in mental health. The motivation for the project was the systematic violation of the rights of people with mental health problems, as recorded in the areas of education, health, employment, and medical care.

The main project actions were the following:

• Operation of an Advocacy Office: The Advocacy Office offered legal and clinical help to people with mental health problems, their families or social circle, free of charge. During the project, the Advocacy Office received 340 cases.
• Handbook: A Handbook for the Protection of Rights in Mental Health was produced.
• Cases of violation: Development of a methodology for recording cases of violation, and pilot implementation.
• Workshops: to special interest groups (mental health professionals, legal professionals, police, etc.)
• Collection of legal information – concerning rights and their violations in people with mental health problems.

Further information about the project can be found on the website: psy-dikaiomata.gr.

The project was funded by Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway, as part of the Programme “We are All Citizens”, part of EEA Grants. The programme aims to strengthen civil society in Greece, and to enhance social justice, democracy, and sustainable development.