Mental health

Human rights body:
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR)
Themes:
Access to court and legal aidAccess to healthcareHealth outcomes and experience in the healthcare systemMental healthTorture and degrading treatmentUse of coercive measures
Populations of concern:
Older personsPersons with disabilitiesPersons with mental health issues
Relevant CESCR article:

Recommended measures (6)

41. The Committee recommends that the State party:

Measure
Measure type:
Institutions, practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Health and Care Services

(a) Ensure that prisoners with mental health conditions receive adequate mental health care, including through transferral to an appropriate medical establishment.

Measure
Measure type:
Institutions, practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Health and Care Services

(b) Ensure that treatment is based on the free and informed consent of the individual concerned or that of his or her legal representative.

Measure
Measure type:
Laws and regulations
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Health and Care Services

(c) Incorporate into the law the prohibition of the enforced administration of intrusive and irreversible treatments such as neuroleptic drugs and electroconvulsive therapy.

Measure
Measure type:
Laws and regulations
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Health and Care Services

(d) Introduce stricter procedural requirements for the use of coercive measures to ensure that persons with psychosocial disabilities and older persons in institutional care have adequate legal protection against the use of coercion.

Measure
Measure type:
Institutions, practices and guidelines
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Health and Care Services

(e) Increase community-based services, including peer support and other alternatives to the medical model, for persons with psychosocial disabilities.

Measure
Measure types:
Institutions, practices and guidelinesStatistics and research
Responsible Ministry:
Ministry of Health and Care Services

(f) Ensure the systematic recording of the use of coercive measures, in accordance with the legal requirements.