WHO QualityRights Project – addressing a hidden emergency

The QualityRights Tool Kit

The WHO has launched the Quality Rights Tool Kit, which supports countries to assess and improve quality of care and human rights conditions in mental health and social care facilities. 

The strength of the Quality Rights Tool kit lies in its ability to facilitate on the ground (facility-level) improvements as well as at policy level. It addresses care quality and human rights in inpatient, outpatient and community facilities by using a participatory approach involving people with mental health conditions, families and healthcare staff.

What are the objectives?

1. Improve the quality of services and human rights conditions in inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities.
2. Build capacity among service users, families and health workers to understand and promote human rights and recovery from mental disabilities.
3. Develop a civil society movement of people with mental disabilities to provide mutual support, conduct advocacy and influence policy-making processes in line with international human rights standards.
4. Reform national policies and legislation in line with best practice and international human rights standards.

What are the long term benefits of the project?

The project will put an end to violations being carried out in the full range of mental health and social care facilities and improve the quality of support and care being provided. Not only does this project provide training and develop skills for health care workers and people with mental disabilities to improve services, but it works to reform policy and law and build a lasting legacy of respect for human rights.

Importantly, the project is a building block for a grassroots civil society movement of people with mental disabilities. Through the establishment of civil society organizations, people with mental disabilities can take concerted action against human rights violations. They can participate more fully in community life, gain access to education and employment opportunities, actively contribute to decision-making processes on issues affecting them, and work towards the provision of quality mental health services in the communities where they live.

http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/quality_rights/en/index.html

Mental health policy and service development

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, WHO Geneva.