Üsküdar University World Mental Health Day Manifesto is Published
Üsküdar University World Mental Health Day Manifesto is Published: “Respect their right, discriminate nobody.”
In the manifesto published by Üsküdar University within the framework of 10th of October World Mental Health Day, it is emphasized that “not discriminating, not isolating from the society and not labeling” those who have mental health problem by remind that those people have their rights.
World Federation for Mental Health determined this year’s theme as “Respecting Basic Rights of Mental Health” for 10th of October Mental Health Day.
Üsküdar University organized a panel within the scope of this theme, problems experienced in the area of mental health were brought to the table and suggestions of solutions were discussed with the participation of esteemed people within the field. In the panel broadcasted alive on Üsküdar University Television, the manifesto was recited by Head of Psychology Department Prof. Sırrı Akbaba. This manifesto both emphasized the basic rights of people who are under a mental health treatment and also reminds us that what kind of approach their relatives and the society they live in, must have.
In the manifesto, it is reminded that those experiencing a mental health problem have basic rights and it is warned “not to discriminate anybody, not to isolate them and not to label them”. The manifesto with the title of “Respecting Mental Health Basic Rights” lists duties of the society, close environment of those who experience a mental health problem.
In the panel “How Respectful we are to Mental Health Basic Rights?” held under the moderatorship of Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hospital Psychiatrist Prof. Sermin Kesebir, psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Hüsnü Erkmen gave important information on the ways to establish a healthy communication with those who experience a mental health problem by indicating that every one can experience a mental health problem during a certain period of their lives in his speech titled “How is a Healthy Relation Formed with Those who Experience a Mental Health Problem?”.
Do not make fun of them, do not act stubbornly!
Erkmen states that we should not make fun of those people having a mental health problem, we should not insult them and we should not discuss with them over things they claim and he emphasized that we should help them to seek a professional help on their problems. Reminding that there is some false news on the media that claims those individuals can be dangerous, Erkmen said that “These individuals are not dangerous, they were exposed to danger, they were abused and they were initiated into crime.”.
Privacy of patients must be respected
Psychiatrist Assist. Prof. Semra Baripoğlu indicated that there are serious problems in integrating individuals with a mental health problem to education, treatment and social life when it is compared to those without a mental health problem within the society. Baripoğlu reminded that the support given to those people fall on the government and society considerably.
There is a need for a Mental Health Law
Baripoğlu indicated that recently Public Mental Health centers have opened in our country and hospital and public treatment approach have began to develop today and Baripoğlu said it is also necessary to new regulation in order individuals with a mental health problem to benefit from rights equally that everybody has, and not to be abused.
Punishment, Justice System and Mental Health
Üsküdar University Vice Rector Prof. Sevil Atasoy highlighted problems faced by individuals who have a mental health problem and involved in a crime in her speech titled “Punishment, Justice System and Mental Health”. Atasoy indicated that there might be some healthy people and people with a mental health problem that they had to plead guilty due to several questioning methods even though they are not quilt in both our country and around the world. Atasoy also emphasized that those individuals who need protection must be provided with a just trial right.
We do not have an application on how to question individuals with a mental health issue!
Prof. Atasoy stated that a person with a mental health problem has a 67% higher chance to face a police or gendarme and Prof. Atasoy added that a great responsibility falls on security unit officers in questioning those people. Atasoy indicated that there is no application on how those individuals must be questions or which questioning methods must be applied on those people in our country and she said security units like police or gendarme must have knowledge on how to talk to those people and these units must have a professional help on this matter.
ÜSKÜDAR UNIVERSITY
MANIFESTO ON RESPECTING BASIC RIGHTS OF MENTAL HEALTH
1) People have rights to know what kind of health problem they have and to demand help. No one can be debarred from this. It is not acceptable to isolate a person in need of help at home without receiving any treatment.
2) Requests of a person who struggles with a mental health problem must not be neglected during both treatment and support process. A person must participate in decision making process that will affect their life. Life experience, age, socio-economic and cultural past are important stages in the treatment process.
3) Respecting privacy is a must. Right of being anonymous cannot be exploited under any circumstance.
4) It is a must of human rights to show respect to human values and dignity of individuals who experience a mental health problem.
5) The most important help that relatives of individuals with a mental health problem can do, is to provide help and to help them to access resources of help.
6) The approach of society towards people experiencing a mental health problem is important as much as help by professionals. People with a mental health problem must not be stigmatized, isolated from society and labelled.
7) To approach with empathy towards those having a mental health problem is essential to eliminate discrimination occurred in the society. The society must be informed on problems that threats mental health. The trust and comfort provided by the close environments provides to overcome many problems.
8) Psychiatrics clinics must be equipped in according to human rights. Fields of mental health service must provide top-level services of treatment and rehabilitation and an individualized care planning in the best way possible with a high level of quality, and without any discrimination.