Ethics Committee
World Mental Health Day
ANNOUNCEMENT
For the total elimination of the violation of patients' rights
October 10th is celebrated World Mental Health Day. As usual, several events will be held, led by organizations and public administration, with the triple purpose of highlighting en highlight the problem it entails, reduce the stigma that still persists, and give a voice—even if only for a day—to the main protagonists and their families.
This year, furthermore, the administration will be able to explain the dedication it provides to mental health, with the recent establishment of the National Pact for Mental Health, which is proposal to guarantee all rights subscribed to in the United Nations Convention by the year 2030 (ratified by the Spanish State in 2008): This new perspective from the administration is welcome.
However, the harsh and cruel reality must be revealed: Nowadays, patients' rights continue to be violated.. These vulnerabilities can be perfectly avoided if the relevant measures are taken. The will to truly face this issue can only be accompanied by adequate prioritization of spending and a culture of care.
With the aim of facilitating the path to be taken, the Ethics Committee (CEA) of the Catalan Congress of Mental Health Foundation, as well as the entities and individuals signing this statement, wish to express:
Our Disagreement with the deprivation of liberty of patients with severe mental disorders. Reject and combat the established idea that, in order to receive adequate treatment, these patients may suffer involuntary commitment to a psychiatric unit.
2. In urgent care services, we demand that the places that are structurally designed to be a place of reception for critical or acute situations. Ensuring the necessary material and personnel conditions to facilitate care and listening so that the patient feels accompanied and understood within their suffering and psychic disorders. With these measures, it can ordinarily be possible to avoid the need for involuntary admissions or mechanical or other restraints.
3. Let us remember that the ratification of the UN Convention by the Spanish State commits suppression of mechanical restraints (Report of the Special Rapporteur, UN, July 24, 2018, para. 43; paragraph 44 specifies that States should recognize these practices as torture) involuntary admission (part 41 of the same report and reiterated in part 64 of the Special Rapporteur's Report 2019), I compel the administration to strengthen and fund Sentencing alternatives not involving deprivation of liberty (Report of the Special Rapporteur, January 11, 2019, para. 64).
4. We reclaim Psychological assistance in emergency rooms and hospital wards with the aim of helping to make the crisis situation more understandable and facilitating the patient's responsible acceptance of it. This work certainly requires more time, but it is a condition for achieving a total or nearly total reduction in involuntary hospitalization, as well as a reduction in pharmacological treatment.
5. Let's remember exceptional nature of police intervention in transfers to emergency centers. These actions will have to be re-protocolled and must always be carried out by adequately trained personnel, with strict and express prohibition of so-called ‘guns To tamp’.
6. Let's reclaim the Patient's right to use their own language in any clinical act; this demand makes even more sense in a psychological crisis situation. Let us remember that the administration must ensure the linguistic rights of the population served, as well as promote cultural competencies and a gender perspective.
7. We claim a Strengthening Mental Health Care Devices (not just medication administration) in their own media and environment of those affected, especially if it is of infants and adolescents your families. It is also vitally important to ensure the continuum of care of the patient at all stages of the life process and of the evolution of their disorder, including home care, residential places, supported housing, etc. Very especially, increase home care staffing In order to address the patient's difficulties in their own environment and avoid the need for involuntary admission.
8. We demand that it be facilitated Professional training (MIR, PIR, EIR) with the aim of focusing their training on a holistic view of the patient and from the perspective of defending their rights.
For effective and respectful mental healthcare based on European standards, we combat the violation of patient rights.
Press release funded by Ethics Committee from the Catalan Congress of Mental Health Foundation: Silvia Ventura (President), Joan Badia (Secretary), Alicia Roig, Ángel Martínez, Asun Pié, Esther Francisco, Fernando Vidal, Jordi Marfà, Judith Martin, Marta Consuegra, Mercedes Serrano, Montse Hierro.
Barcelona, October 10, 2022