lundi 19 mai 2014

Facts About Mental Health Advocacy Colorado

By Minnie Whitley


Mental health advocacy includes among other things the many actions designed to introduce change to attitudinal and structural barriers to accomplishing outcomes of psychological well being that are positive. The concept is a relatively new one whose initial development was for reduction of stigma and also discrimination. Moreover, it was supposed to promote rights of persons with mental disorders. In looking at the concept of mental health advocacy Colorado residents should know certain pieces of information.

Within the last about 30 years, the rights and needs of persons that have such disorders have been better defined. Consequently, consumers and families alike have come up with organizations so that their voices are more defined. After some time, they were joined by more NGOs, health worker associations and governments. With time, the concept became broad to include persons with less severe disorders and the various needs of the general population.

There are various actions associated with advocacy. Some of these include dissemination of information, training, education, raising awareness, counseling, denouncing and mutual help. There have been various barriers to psychological health. In a number of the parts of the world, mental health and the disorders that come with it have not been treated with the same importance as physical health. If anything, they have been neglected a great deal.

The overall number of people with this condition and who still receive the most basic treatment is very less. The majority of them are normally discriminated against and stigmatized. Most communities are faced with various factors that present risks to mental health. Among the experienced barriers are lack of employment and housing, stigma and lack of effective health services.

Through stigmatization, people become deeply compromised socially and also discredited. Persons with serious mental disorders have a different appearance owing to the side effects. There are lots of misconceptions about such people. For instance, that they are lazy, violent, unreliable, irresponsible, with no conscience and worthless. Other people also consider them to be unsafe, unable to sustain families and stupid. The misconceptions vary and individuals will be subjected to different ones. It is these misconceptions that bring about stigma.

Most of the advocacy initiatives have brought about positive outcomes irrespective of the various barriers. Whereas there is still no scientific proof that advocacy improves psychological health in populations, there have been reports of encouraging projects in many countries. Some of the realized outcomes are placing of such matters on government agendas, changes made to laws, protection of rights of such people and improvements in practices and policies of institutions.

In a number of countries, the support has changed the way in which affected persons are regarded and treated by the society. The consumers are then able to express their visions of services they need. Furthermore, they are increasingly able to make the right decisions that concern treatment and also other matters affecting them.

On a general basis, consumers and families have various roles in advocacy. Some of these include development, planning, implementing and improving legislations and also coming up with the right policies. Moreover, they mediate, counsel and defend consumers.




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