WHO protests abuses of mentally ill

To commemorate International Human Rights Day (December 10), the World Health Organization has called for an end to human rights violations against people with mental health disorders.

A WHO press release notes:

Misunderstanding and stigma surrounding mental ill health are widespread. Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, there is a belief that they are untreatable or that people with mental disorders are difficult, not intelligent, or incapable of making decisions. This stigma can lead to abuse, rejection and isolation and exclude people from health care or support. Within the health system, people are too often treated in institutions which resemble human warehouses more than places of healing.

WHO has also released a powerful photo essay titled "Forgotten People." The essay notes that people with mental disorders are commonly "thought to be violent and they often invoke fear despite the fact that they are far more likely to be the victims of violence rather than the perpetrators."

The WHO web site contains a wealth of information, including a world mental health fact sheet. Among the facts cited:

• 450 million people worldwide are affected by mental, neurological or behavioural problems at any time.
• About 873,000 people die by suicide every year.
• Cost-effective treatments exist for most disorders and, if correctly applied, could enable most of those affected to become functioning members of society.