MH Rights: Session on Human Rights and Mental Health

The Session on Human Rights and Mental Health took place at CEDOC – Chronic Diseases Research Center on October 28th.

This session aimed to discuss key challenges in the area of Human Rights and Mental Health, both from a national and international perspective.

The speakers included Miguel Xavier (Directorate-General of Health – National Mental Health Program), Fernando Vieira (Lisbon Psychiatric Hospital – CHPL and National Mental Health Program)

, Nora Sveaass (Oslo University) and Jorun Rugkasa (Akershus University Hospital).

The topics discussed were the following:

• Mental health, legislation and human rights in Portugal
• Psychiatric patients and the Portuguese law
• Human rights violations and mental health
• Coercion in mental health care.

Approximately 40 participants attended this session, which included representatives from mental health services, NGOs, governmental officials, researchers and students.

This session was organized under the aims of the MH Rights Project – Integrated Program for the Promotion of Human Rights of People with Mental Disorders, financed by the Active Citizens Fund 2018-202, EEA Grants.