• One in eight people worldwide experience mental health problems, which can affect their physical health, well-being, relationships and livelihoods.
• Until ¼ of the adult population of our country, or more than 8 million peoplehave experienced mental health problems
• Close half of Poles experienced a deterioration in their mental state due to the pandemic
• The annual celebration of World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilize efforts to support them.
• “Mental health is a universal human right” – this is the slogan of this year’s celebration

World Mental Health Day has been celebrated on October 10 since 1992. It is an annual activity of the World Federation for Mental Health.

This year’s theme highlights that mental health is a fundamental human right for all. Everyone, wherever they are and whoever they are, has the right to the highest possible standard of mental health. These are the right to be protected against mental health risks, the right to accessible, acceptable and good quality health care, as well as the right to freedom, independence and inclusion in the community.

Recognizing mental health as a universal human right empowers people to advocate for themselves – and those around them. If people do not know their human rights, they are unable to defend them.

In this context, it should be emphasized that mental health problems should never be a reason to deprive people of their rights or exclude them from making decisions about their own health. Meanwhile, people in mental health crisis continue to face numerous human rights violations. Many of them are excluded from social life and victims of discrimination. There is a lack of access to support services in the local environment that would respect their subjectivity. We all have the right to live independently and to be included in communities. Appropriate social services and support in education, work and housing are therefore necessary.

The Ombudsman calls for the systematic development of the network of mental health centers in the country, ensuring an adequate level of funding. Such activities are also part of the process of deinstitutionalization of health care referred to in art. 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to discuss what remains to be done to make adequate mental health care available to people around the world.

Monika Wiszyńska-Rakowska: Mental health is a universal human right

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. Its goal is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilize efforts to support them.

This year’s celebrations are taking place under the slogan “Mental health is a universal human right”. A law that requires more attention and support.

The Ombudsman, as an independent body monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, strives to provide appropriate support to people suffering from mental health problems.

Everyone, wherever they are and whoever they are, has the right to the highest possible standard of mental health. These are the right to be protected against mental health risks, the right to accessible, acceptable and good quality care, as well as the right to freedom, independence and inclusion in the community.

For these reasons, the commissioner seeks to adopt systemic solutions regarding support for people in mental crisis. The prolongation of the reform and, above all, the lack of legal stability constitute a very serious problem to guarantee continued support. During the development of the current edition of the National Mental Health Protection Program, the positions of interested groups – doctors, patients, patient organizations – were completely ignored.

Social organizations concerned with the well-being of patients hope for further and systematic development of the network of mental health centers in the country with stable financing.

The Ombudsman fully supports these expectations. Only if reform continues will people in mental crisis have access to care in decent conditions and with respect for the patient’s dignity as a human being.