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REPORT ON MY PARTICIPATION AT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION 2 nd INTERNATIONAL TRAINING FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGISLATION. 10 – 12 th NOVEMBER, 2003, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.
BY KATONTOKA SYLVESTER. MENTAL HEALTH USERS NETWORK OF ZAMBIA.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In my own capacity as a user, I find it important to adequately thank WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION; MENTAL HEALTH POLICY AND SERVICES DEVELOPMENT for inviting me to participate in “THE FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGISLATION, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND”. The invitation is gratefully acknowledged as it proved a point to the world, the potential in a user vis-a vis mental health law reform. Many thanks again to WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION for exposing the user potential for real participation, acknowledging that users also have much to contribute and can do so as successfully as anyone else in the community if only and only if our abilities are recognized and trust is shown in our potential. To all those mental health representatives and key decision makers from more than 67 countries and the W.H.O staff who made time to talk to me, supported me in many ways and assisted me in my participation, am so thankful. My gratitude also is for resource materials and knowledge acquired, for it is now valuable information source for our advocacy and participation efforts. My strong feeling is that users, especially those from countries that were represented at the forum, will receive recognition and their potential will be put to good use for a better mental health system tomorrow and in future.
INTRODUCTION The forum on mental health, human rights and legislation was W.H.O’s effort to protect the human rights of users of mental health services. This is after becoming aware that 25 % of countries around the world have no legislation on mental health while 25 % of countries with mental health legislation, much have drafted them over 40 years ago before effective and human treatment was available. These outdated national laws focus exclusively on institutional care, locking people away for months or even years without having their cases reviewed. In a simple language, the national laws are not based on human rights principles but limits the rights of users of mental health services. People with mental health problems are denied basic rights including shelter and food. There is also limitation in the fields of employment, education and housing due to mental health problem. OBJECTIVE OF THE FORUM To address the above-mentioned concerns, the international training forum for mental health representatives and key decision makers from more than 67 countries, mainly from the developing world was organized by W.H.O. The W.H.O international training forum, provided participants with information and training on mental health law reform. Participants had brain-storming session looking at how countries can draft and implement mental health legislation at the same time respecting the users human rights and ensuring that professional treatment and care is offered. This strategy is going to help countries develop legislations that will enhance access to mental health care and the delivery of effective care while respecting the rights of the users receiving it.
MY PARTICIPATION After a tiring journey, I jetted in Geneva about mid-day feeling exhaustion. This was two days before the commencement of the programme and straight away I went for bed resting. The following day [Sunday],I woke up fresh and had my rehearsals. But I had to wait until evening to learn how big my audience will be especially that I was going to give my presentation on the very first day. Learning that I will have more than hundred [100] people before me, I became nervous because among the participants there was no one who was a user, only me and me alone. This state of affairs sent me back to my room for more preparations. In the process of preparing myself a courageous thinking came upon me. The conviction in me was that a user everywhere in the world, through me, is being presented with a chance of a life time and I saw no need of wasting this wonderful opportunity that a user will not likely to get again. I saw it a good and rare chance to talk straight into the face of mental health representatives and key decision makers, how much they have ignored and neglected us and I did set myself thereon. Come Monday, I found myself in a meditation mood thinking deeply and seriously of the stigmatisation, discrimination, confinements, consignments, relagation that has been seen a user live a life of object poverty and misery. In solidarity with a helpless user who is hungry everyday, homeless everyday, I convinced myself to go minus food until after my presentation. With my meditation I found myself running late for my presentation by five [5] minutes and by then the conference hall was full to capacity. Without wasting time, the chairperson introduced me to the audience and gave me the floor to address the participants. With a voice in a representative manner, I spoke myself out on our vulnerability, powerlessness, abandonment and the isolation in psychiatry institution under deplorable conditions that threaten our health and our lives. I made a cry on the neglect ion and leaving us to a life of hopelessness on the street and how they constitute a violation of our basic human rights. . As not expected, the entire conference hall was absolutely composed. Twenty minutes looked hours to me and my coming to the end of my presentation was received by a great applaud approving the concerns I raised. But my biggest surprise was how the W.H.O staff organized a press conference at their Headquarters. In a little while I was rushed to W.H.O Headquarters were I came face to face with the international media and again I spoke myself concerning our problems and the need of legislations that will protect and promote us so as to enjoy life with pride. There after I became the target person at the forum in the sense that every participant wanted some time with me to discuss how I can help in one way or another, provoking my fellow users in their respective countries so that they can as well be pro-active in issues of mental health.
CONCLUSION The programme in itself was indeed a success. The good turn out by mental health representatives and key decision makers was a sign of good will towards users. It showed me the commitment, the willingness and the promise by the decision makers who are Governments and stewards of mental health that they will assume the responsibilities for ensuring that policies, Programmes and legislations are developed and implemented. That policy formulation will be based upon up-to-date and reliable information concerning effective treatments, prevention and promotion strategies. And also that these policies will be reviewed periodically. There was also some sign of commitment in assessing, reevaluating, and reforming the mental health services to provide the best available treatment and care. With our own catch-cry NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US’ , for and on behalf of users, we strongly demand our inclusion in the development and implementation of the same policies, programmes and services we use. We want to organize public awareness and education campaigns so as to reduce stigma and discrimination and increase the use of mental health services bringing mental and physical health care closer to each other.
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