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SARAJEVO, October 14 (FENA) - "Mental Health, Human Rights and Recovery - Launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality Rights Platform for Bosnia and Herzegovina" is the title of a conference held in Sarajevo today as part of the traditional marking of World Mental Health Day.
The free WHO e-training on mental health and human rights "Quality Rights" was presented at the conference.
The training is intended for people with experience of mental disabilities, decision-makers, health and social workers, family members or community members with the aim of acquiring knowledge and skills in promoting human rights, as well as combating stigma, abuse and coercion that are often experienced by people with mental, psychosocial, intellectual and cognitive difficulties.
Head of the Office of the World Health Organization in BiH, Victor Oisavszky, said on this occasion that on World Mental Health Day, the WHO reminded that more than 100 million people in the European region have mental health problems and that anyone can get sick. He stated that especially this year, the Covid-19 pandemic worsened the situation and that research from the second quarter of 2020 showed that at least one-third of the respondents felt the consequences to their mental health.
"In these circumstances, the cooperation between the health authorities of BiH and the WHO in the field of mental health has been successful and has lasted for almost 25 years. The vision from the very beginning was to invest a great deal in a strong network of community mental health centers, applying a multidisciplinary approach oriented to recovery and personalized care.
The model of community protection practiced in BiH has been recognized over and over again as an example of good practice in the region. This new resource, WHO QualityRights, which we are launching here in Sarajevo today, confirms the commitment of the relevant ministries to continue to be the first in promoting quality services and protecting the human rights of people with mental health needs," said Olsavszky.
He states that e-training on mental health, human rights and recovery 'QualityRights' could not have come at a better time when the pandemic poses new challenges and tests the system's ability to continue to provide good quality service.
"This online course will be available to everyone working in the field of mental health, policymakers, organizations of beneficiaries and other participants, and we at WHO hope that the training will be received with great interest and will benefit many more people than it could ever be achieved by traditional face to face training," said Olsavszky.
Barbara Datwyler Scheuer, Director of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that "stigmatization and discrimination against people with mental disabilities and their families remains a challenge, and Bosnia and Herzegovina is no exception."
"This can, and must change. This is about human rights. Only if we respect their human rights can people with mental health problems live with dignity,” said Datwyler Scheuer.
(FENA) S. R.
