Mental Health - Press Conference 7.12.2005
Le Club suisse de la Presse – Geneva Press Club , in collaboration with the Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN) has the pleasure of inviting Swiss and foreign journalists to a press conference (to be conducted in English and in French) on the following theme
Forgotten People: Mental Health and Human Rights
with:
Dr Philippe Chastonay , Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, University Medical Center,
Dr Michelle Funk , Coordinator, Mental Health Policy and Service Development, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization (WHO),
Mr Randall Harbour , Executive Secretary, Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN),
Dr Benedetto Saraceno , Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (WHO).
Wednesday 7 December 2005 at 11 am
"pastorale", Route de Ferney 106, Genève
People with mental disorders are victims of some of the worst forms of human rights violations but despite this, continue to be left off international and national agendas. In light of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) HQ is using International Human Rights Day this year to focus attention on these issues in an effort increase global awareness.
In commemoration of this occasion WHO is launching an online photo essay, Forgotten People: Mental Health and Human Rights . The photo essay (see extract attached) illustrates the abuses and discrimination faced by people with mental disorders and also emphasizes some of the solutions available to reduce the suffering. WHO is also unveiling the Mental Health Policy Project: Addressing Needs, Improving Services (MHPP), a new global initiative to support countries to improve conditions for people with mental disorders. An integral component of this project is the WHO Resource Book on Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation , resulting from a GIAN-supported research project, as well as the WHO Mental Health Policy and Service Guidance Package .
The photo essay will be available on the WHO website ( http://www.who.int/en/ ) at 10 am on 7 December.
For further information please contact Dr Michelle Funk (tel. 0041 22 791 38 55, funkm@who.int ), or consult the WHO website: www.who.int/mental_health/policy/en . Please also visit the RUIG-GIAN website: www.ruig-gian.org .