Psychiatric Rights
“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” ― John F. Kennedy
People with mental health challenges are entitled to legal protections and health care services that will allow them to maximize their ability to integrate and engage in all aspects of life. Factors required to enable this feat include1:
- Being treated with dignity and respect
- Having privacy protection
- Informing of all possible treatment options
- Treatment appropriate for their demographics
- Indiscriminatory care and services
- Preservation of choice and autonomy
“Mad In America’s Ana Florence interviews United Nations Special Rapporteur Dainius Pūras about his own journey as a psychiatrist and the future of rights-based approaches to mental health.”
Associated american Acts
americans with disabilities act
Established in 1990
Protects people being discriminated against due to their physical and mental disabilities. This law applies to areas such as employment, public accommodations, public transportation, and accessing governmental programs and services2.
fair housing amendments act
Established in 1988
This act disallows housing discrimination on the basis of someone’s mental or physical disability. rental housing managers are required to make reasonable attempts to meet the need of the individual3.
civil rights of institutionalized persons act
Established in 1980
United States government are able to investigate governent facilities (such as psychiatric institutions, nursing homes, correctional facilitites, and group homes) to make sure that they are operating with safe and appropriate care for their patients4.
relevant videos
"Housing and the 'Right to Fail' For People With Severe Mental Illness (Full Documentary) | FRONTLINE"
“Thousands of New Yorkers with severe mental illnesses won the chance to live independently in supported housing, following a 2014 federal court order. FRONTLINE and ProPublica investigate what’s happened to people moved from adult homes into apartments and find more than two dozen cases in which the system failed, sometimes with deadly consequences.”
"States look to involuntarily
hospitalize people to confront growing
mental health crisis"
“Across the country, states are trying to tackle the growing mental health crisis. Some are enacting laws and policies that would make it easier to hospitalize or detain the severely mentally ill against their will or through voluntary court-ordered treatment. California is taking steps toward compelling more mentally ill patients into care.”
"Mental Health & Housing: Finding Home" Panel Video
“WBFO News Director Dave Debo will host “Finding Home,” a panel discussion on issues surrounding the lack of housing options for those living with mental illness. This conversation will include current work to combat the closing of housing options, the housing landscape in the greater Buffalo area for individuals with mental illness, effects of the housing shortages, as well as efforts in education, prevention, and intervention for individuals and families.”