Mental health, human rights and their relationship : an introduction

Michael Dudley, Derrick Silove, Fran Gale

    Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperChapter

    Abstract

    In recent decades, mental health and human rights have emerged as converging fields of research and practice, as recognition grows that the two domains intersect in multiple and complex ways. By including human rights outcomes within their proposed agendas, initiatives in global mental health have acknowledged this close link (Lancet Global Mental Health Group 2007; Patel and Prince 2010). One key element of this shared concern involves addressing the enormous burden of adverse mental health outcomes following war and other conflicts (Steel et al. 2009) endeavouring to guarantee that the mental health component is integral to humanitarian programmes. Another is to engage cultural considerations at the forefront of thought and practice in both human rights and mental health, thereby ensuring that mental health initiatives do not under~ mine the traditional healing and recovery processes of indigenous peoples (Steel et al. 2009). Given the intricate relationship between the mental health and human rights communities, there is a pressing need to increase the level of dialogue and strengthen the in-depth analysis of this important relationship.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHuman Rights and Mental Health: Vision, Praxis and Courage
    EditorsMichael Dudley, Derrick Silove, Fran Gale
    Place of PublicationU.K.
    PublisherOxford University Press
    Pages1-49
    Number of pages49
    ISBN (Print)9780199213962
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Keywords

    • mental health
    • human rights
    • humanitarian programmes

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