Details On Mental Health Advocacy Colorado

By Minnie Whitley


Mental health support involves the many actions whose aim is to bring changes to the major structural and attitudinal impediments to achieving the outcome of mental health that is positive. The concept is a relatively new one that was first developed in order to reduce discrimination and stigma. In addition, it was meant to help in promotion of human rights of people having these disorders. In considering mental health advocacy Colorado residents ought to look at the various important details.

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.

The actions associated with advocacy are numerous. Examples include mutual help, denouncing, counseling, education, raising awareness, training and dissemination of information. At the same time, there are a number of barriers experienced. There are many parts of the world in which people with this condition are not treated as well as those with other physical disabilities. In fact, they are neglected by many people in the society.

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.

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.

The majority of the support initiatives have lead to positive results despite the many obstacles. Despite the fact that science is still to prove that such support indeed improves mental health in people, reports of positive outcomes in many countries have been received. Among these positive outcomes are placing the issues on government agendas, making changes to laws, protecting rights of people with such conditions and improving policies and practices of various institutions.

The way people with these conditions are treated has changed as a result of such improvements and support. It has become possible for consumers to articulate their vision of service effectively. They can also make informed decisions about many aspects of their lives.

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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