Page 80 - Hospital Authority Convention 2017
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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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