Page 6 - Hospital Authority Convention 2017

Symposiums Symposiums
HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2017

S1.1 Mental Health 13:15 Convention Hall C

Social Justice for Persons with Mental Illness
Bhugra D
Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
Social discrimination against people with mental illness is common. Stigma against mental illness, against those with mental
illness and those who deal with mental illness is also universal. Although various stigma reducing programmes have led to
some reduction in stigma, the effort should focus on eliminating discrimination, which can be done through changes in the
legal system. The variations in physical and mental health funding at research and clinical levels can be eliminated using
legal means. In a survey of 193 member states of the United Nations, four areas of social discrimination - the right to vote,
the right to marry, the right to make a will and inherit property and the right to employment – showed that in a majority of
the countries there were high levels of discrimination. These observations led to developing a Bill of Rights for people with
mental illness. Using models previously successfully employed by minority groups which led to changes towards equality,
similar approaches deserve further exploration. Equality rights based funding and outcomes at a global level can offer one
way forward. As major psychiatric disorders have underlying biopsychosocial causes and interventions, social determinants
of health and interventions can be effected through changes in law.

Tuesday, 16 May

S1.2 Mental Health 13:15 Convention Hall C

Stigma/Anti-stigma Campaigning
Mak IWC
Public Awareness Committee, Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists, Hong Kong

The importance of mental health to our society has gained better recognition in recent years. Yet, stigma related to mental
disorders or mental health services is regarded as the main reason for insufficient help-seeking.
This presentation will discuss concept of stigma, some global anti-stigma campaigns, and the key principles of how to
diminish it.
It will also introduce the local antistigma campaign “Look at Mi” organised by the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists, and
present the preliminary evaluation related to such work.

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