News from members: 1st Mental Health Congress in Warsaw

By | 13/05/2017

On May 8, 2017 the 1st Mental Health Congress was held in Warsaw. According to the report of our individual member, Prof. Dr Tadeusz Trocikowski the Congress was attended by over 500 participants. It was organized under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Poland, Minister of Health and many other stakeholders interested in Mental Health. The main topic of the Congress was implementation of the National Mental Health Program.

The program’s implementation is long expected by mental health service users, family members and professionals, as well as by scientists and students. During the Congress representatives of all of these groups adopted a declaration addressed to the Minister of Health.

Declaration demands:

  • Respect for human rights and freedoms of persons experiencing mental crisis, particularly their right to decide in all areas of life,
  • Respect for the right of persons experiencing mental health crisis to fully participate in social life, to have private life, apartment, work and local community treatment,
  • Accustoming of educational and prevention programs, challenging stigma and bias and actively involving people with experience of mental health crisis.

See the whole declaration in English and in Polish.