Human rights of people with mental illness diagnosis: perceptions among service users, family members and health professionals in Tunisia
Journal of Public Mental Health
ISSN: 1746-5729
Article publication date: 8 April 2021
Issue publication date: 14 September 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to assess the awareness about the rights of people with mental illness in the main psychiatric hospital in Tunisia among the service users, the family members and the staff.
Design/methodology/approach
The Convention of Rights of People with Disabilities mandates that State Parties initiate and maintain campaigns and human rights training to promote understanding of the rights of people with mental illnesses, considered as a main factor for their fulfillment. Service users, family members and staff evaluated, through a survey, the importance of ten rights for persons with mental illness, stated in the convention.
Findings
Disparities were found in the perception of the different rights by and between the three groups. The highest levels of awareness were associated with the freedom from torture or degrading treatment and the right to live with dignity and respect, whereas the lower importance were assigned to the right to participation in recovery plans, to give consent and to exercise legal capacity.
Originality/value
The lack of awareness and the poor perception of rights of people with mental illness is one of the barriers to their achievement. More training and awareness raising is necessary.
Keywords
Citation
Rekhis, M., Ouanes, S., Ben Hamouda, A. and Rafrafi, R. (2021), "Human rights of people with mental illness diagnosis: perceptions among service users, family members and health professionals in Tunisia", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 182-190. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-06-2020-0075
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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