The government is working on two bills that must be moved forward without delay and can strengthen the mental health framework, according to a written statement by the Patient Advocate, Marios Charalambides, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.
According to Mr. Charalambides, the first bill concerns, among other things, the amendment of legislation on psychiatric hospitalization that regulates voluntary hospitalization, when and how a person may be examined and hospitalized without their consent, the involvement of mental health professionals in the transport and admission of the patient to appropriate and safe facilities, the timely and independent review of every decision, and the patient’s full informed consent regarding their rights and the option for representation.
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The second bill concerns community-based mental health care and establishes the framework for services outside of hospitals, ensuring a comprehensive network of community services, specialized services for children and adolescents, as well as for particularly vulnerable groups, and institutional safeguards for the operation of community-based structures.
The Ombudsman notes that mental health requires a shared commitment from everyone, ongoing dialogue with those who experience it, decisions, resources, laws, evaluation, and results.
He also notes that the dignity of people living with mental health challenges must always be at the center of every policy and every intervention, as the stigma and social exclusion they face remain among the most serious shortcomings and greatest challenges facing our society.
Source: CNA
