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Essential 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.

In the last 30 years or so, the needs and rights of people that have mental disorders have become more defined. As a result, families and consumers by extension developed organizations to enable their voices to be more defined. Thereafter, they were joined by various nongovernmental organizations, a number of workers and even governments. In the recent past, the advocacy concept has broadened to encompass the rights of people with disorders that are less severe and needs of the general population.

There are several actions that are associated with these support services. Examples of these are training, dissemination of information, education, counseling, raising awareness, mutual help and denouncing. Despite these actions, there still are barriers that are associated with implementation of some actions. There are sections of the world where mental disorders have not been treated with the same seriousness as physical health. Instead, such people with these conditions have been ignored massively.

There is only a small number of people with this condition and still receive the most basic treatment. The remaining people who are the majority are subjected to stigma and discrimination. A good number of communities faced with factors which present risks to psychological health. Some of the experienced barriers are poor quality services in hospitals, lack of employment opportunities and stigma.

Stigma causes persons to have deeply compromised social standing and discredit. Most of the people with these disorders that are serious appear different because of the side effects of their condition. Some of the common misconceptions about people with such conditions are that they are lazy, unreliable, violent, irresponsible, worthless and with no conscience. Some also consider them as unsafe to be with, stupid and incompetent to marry and raise children. These are the misconceptions that lead to stigmatization.

There have been various barriers on the way of advocacy but these have not prevented the achievement of positive outcomes. Science is yet to give proof that such support enhances mental health. Nevertheless, there have been reports of encouraging progress in many countries. Some of the improvements include placement of such matters in the agenda of governments, protecting rights of such people and making relevant changes to laws to accommodate those affected.

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.

Generally, there are many consumer and family roles when it comes to support. These include involvement in planning, development, implementation and improvement of legislation and policies. They also counsel, mediate and defend other consumers.




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