WHO,OHCHR Call to End Forced Practices in Mental Health

Guardiansun.co.bw THE MIDWEEK SUN

TUNDERSTANDING THE FOUR PILLARS OF in legislation and policies without This publication offers guidance on recourse to coercive practices. The how a rights-based approach can he World Health new report said: “Human rights abuses support the transformation needed CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH Organisation(WHO) and coercive practices in mental health in mental health systems.” The new and the Office of the care, supported by existing legislation report also called for the need to

High Commissioner on Human and policies, are still far too common. promote more effective communitybased

Rights(OHCHR)have stressed the Involuntary hospitalisation and treatment, mental health care. It further

need to end coercive practices in unsanitary living conditions noted that the majority of reported

BY SUN REPORTER

mental health such as involuntary and physical, psychological, and emohteiaolntha,l government expenditure on mental

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detention, forced treatment, ardiovascular seclusion abuse characterize many mental health is allocated to psychiatric

encompassing the and restraints to respect health services across the world. While hospitals (43 per cent in high-income

well-being of the heart

the right to make deacnidsibolonosd avbesoseults, stanmdas nays countries have sought to reform countries).

individual’s health caarceritaincadl atsrpeeactt- of otvheerairll laws, policies and services since However, evidence shows that

health. Cardiovascular diseases

ment choices. cortohne aray doption of the United Nations

(CVDs), such as community-based care services are Making this call in ahjoeainr tndeisweagsuei,ds-trokeC, oandvention on the Rights of Persons more accessible, cost-efficient and ance, entitled “Mentalrheeuamltahti,chhuemartadniseasew, pitohseDisabilities in 2006, too few have effective in contrast to institutional

a significant global health rights and legislation: challenge. guidance The and World Health adopted or amended the relevant laws models of mental health care.The practice”, launched inOrcgoalnliasbatoiornat(iWonHO) reapnodrtps olicies on the scale needed to end guidance sets out what needs to be

that these conditions claim with the Office of the High Commissioner abuses and promote human rights in done to accelerate deinstitutionalisation

approximately 17.9 million on Human Rights lives (OHCHR), each year, making mental them health care. WHO DirectormoGrtaelnitey and embed a rights-based community WHO said the new gtuhiedlaeandcinegwcaouuseldof ral, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, approach to mental health

worldwide.To gauge and support countries to reform legislation stated that mental health is an care. This includes adopting legisla-dentsiiotyn

maintain cardiovascular health body composition, categorizing body, but excessive levels pressure measures the force of in order to end effectively, human experts rights rely on integral four individuals and essential as underweight, component of tlhowe ltiopogprraodteuinallybrloeopdlagcaeinsptsayrtcerhyiwatarllisc. High abuses and increase akcecyehsesatloth qmueaal-suremreignhtst: tohheaelathltyhw. comimnsotniltyuktinonwsnwasithbinlocolduspirveesscuorme cmanundai-mage

eight, overweight, (LDL),

body-mass index (BMI), blood or obese. “bad cholesterol,” can lead to arteries, increasing the risk of ity mental health care. It also stated “This new guidance will support ty support systems and mainstream

sugar levels, blood pressure, “Whatever the outcome heart disease and stroke. High heart disease. Lifestyle choices, that: “Moreover, a gr a o n wdin c g hb ol o e d s y te o rf ol le c v o e u l n s. trioefsytoumr makeaesuthreemcehnat,nigt easll neLeDdLedcholessteerrovl ilecveesls, rseusuclht aisncilnudcionmg eobseusiptyp, oprhty,sical evidence sets out howTchoeseercsievreveparsacfo-undatoionparlovbidegeinqsuwaitlhitynumtrietinonta. lIfhyeoaulthfrcomarefactorshloikue saidnigetarsicshisintancineacatinvidty,paelceohroslucopnpsuomrpttion,

elements for heart health, are underweight, you have to fatty foods, a lack of exercise, and stress, can contribute to tices negatively impact physical and that assists a person’s recovery and networks. On using the guidance to

and understanding their eat better and gain some weight smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure. According mental health, ofteninctoemrapctoiounndisinegssentirael sfporectasndtihf eyoiur adreigovneirtwye,igehmt, ypouowearnidngobesaitdyo. pTtoaarsisgehssts-btoaDserdKaakapbpe,ritoiaschimptortant a person’s existing coinnddiviitdiuoanls, wpahrtiilceularlyptehospele hwavitehtomeatebnettaelr ahnedalolstehsocmoendicthiolnessterol lmeveelns,taalliphidepaalntehl , itofmuraitnhtaeirn na ohetaeldthythweight,

aged 40 and above, to preserve weight,” Dr Kakabe says, adding blood test is performed, with adopt a balanced diet, engage alienating them from their support and psychosocial disabilities to lead full need to recognise that mental health

their well-being. that if you are overweight, which normal cholesterol levels ideally in regular exercise, limit alcohol systems. The guidance proposes General Practitioner,Dr leg- and healthy is the lives more common in their scenario, communbiteileosw.”200 misg/ndoL.t Mthaneagsionlge raensdptobnascicboiulistey, anodfmtahneaging islative provisions to eOnledkacnotserKcaikoabneienmphasiFzeosrthhe isypouarwti,lUl bNe adHviisgehd tCo eoamt lemssissciohnolersterolhinevaolltvhecs adrietasreyctostrreaslsotnoen. oTrmhaelinzeewblood

energy foods (carbohydrates). changes, stress reduction, and pressure. mental health services and enshrine for Human Rights, Volker Türk said; guidance is aimed at all legislators

Eating carbohydrates when a balanced diet. While it is essential to free and informed ccoarndsioevnastcualasr amyoburitwioonrkmenutasitlsbseitttinog tarlal nsfoBrlmood Suaganrd: Bploolidcysu-gmara, keurnsdienrvstoanlvdetdheisne dforuarftp-illars

day is detrimental, according the primary source of energy basis of all mental h“Theaeslethfo-uremlaakteethde health services, not just in their ing, amending aofncdaridmiovpalsecmulaernhteianltgh,

to the doctor, because you extracted from the food we interventions. It also provides guid- reach, but in their underlying values, legislation impacting mental health,

attain energy that you will not consume, needs to be regulated ance on how moresucgoamr tbhe eabyleartoeetxrpuenlyd.reDsrpKoankasbieve tto tphreventsuadcvherases hleaawltsh adpdrorfesssioinnagl

effects. High blood sugar levels challenging cases cahnearbt,ethehmaonsdt and dignity of the individual. inequality and discrimination. can lead to conditions like diabetes. Dr Kakabe notes that lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, play a pivotal role in controlling blood sugar levels. Fasting blood glucose tests can identify abnormal levels, with normal values ranging between 70 and 100 mg/dL.

Blood Pressure: Blood