Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-wq2xx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T15:34:00.184Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Advocacy in the mental health services field

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

Nicole Fontaine  and
Elisabeth Allard
Nicole Fontaine*
Affiliation:
Ministère des Relations avec les Citoyens et de l'Immigration, Gouvernement du Québec, Montréal, Québec
Elisabeth Allard*
Affiliation:
Conseil Provisorie des Malades, Montréal, Québec
*
Indirizzo per la corrispondenza: Mrs. N. Fontaine, Sous-ministre, Ministere des Relations avec les Citoyens et de l'Immigration, Gouvernement du Québec, 360 rue McGill, Montréal H2Y 2E9 (Québec).
Mrs. E. Allard, lawyer, is agent de liaison, Conseil' Provisoire des Malades, Montreal. Fax +1-514-864.2255.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Objective — Advocacy in the mental health services field is gaining importance since the traditional role of mental health hospitals is changing, particularly in North America and in Western Europe. This review will define advocacy, its goals and fundamental principles. It will then delineate the skills and strategies needed for any intervention on behalf of a patient or a group of patients. It will also deal with the issues and approaches most frequently raised and used, and finally, with the limits of advocacy. Method — The method used for this review was mainly a recension of the literature concerning advocacy throughout North America and Europe, having in view to see emerging the principal stakes and concerns related to this process. Results — Advocacy has a significant impact patients' awareness of their rights and their capacity to exercise them. It also prevents potential abuse of patients. On the other hand, some patients have an increased opportunity to cease treatment, and this could lead to serious medical consequences. There is also the possibility of retaliation from staff, as a result of being involved with an advocate. The combination of high quality care and effective advocacy is the best guarantee that a mental health patient will get the care he wants and needs with human dignity.

Riassunto

Scopo — L'advocacy nel campo dei servizi di salute mentale sta acquistando importanza in seguito al cambiamento del ruolo tradizionale degli ospedali psichiatrici, particolarmente in Nord America e in Europa occidentale. Questo articolo si propone di definire l'advocacy, i suoi obiettivi ed i principi fondamentali. Inoltre intende delineare le capacità e le strategie necessarie per ogni intervento in favore di un paziente o di un gruppo di pazienti. Si occupa anche degli argomenti e degli approcci più frequentemente sviluppati ed utilizzati ed infine dei limiti della difesa legale. Metodo — Il metodo usato in questo articolo si basa soprattutto sulla recensione della letteratura relativa all'advocacy in Nord America ed in Europa, con lo scopo di rendere evidenti i principali vantaggi e interessi collegati a questo processo. Risultati — L'advocacy ha un impatto significativo sulla consapevolezza di pazienti riguardo ai loro diritti e alle loro capacità di esercitarli. Inoltre previene potenziali abusi sui pazienti. D'altra parte, alcuni pazienti ottengono una crescente opportunità di interrompere il trattamento, e ciò potrebbe condurre a gravi conseguenze dal punto di vista medico. La combinazione di un'alta qualità di cura e di una reale difesa giuridica è la migliore garanzia che il paziente psichiatrico ottenga la cura che desidera e di cui ha bisogno, nel rispetto della dignità umana.

Keywords

advocacypsychiatryhealthrightsadvocacypsichiatriasalutediritti.
Type
Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , April 1997 , pp. 29 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

COMPREHENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barry, A. (1983). The importance of mental advocacy. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal 4, 35.Google Scholar
Bartlett, P. (1986). Mental Health Law: the Advocate's Manual. The Law Union of Ontario.Google Scholar
Binder, R.L. (1985). Patients' rights advocates in San Francisco. Bulletin of American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 13, 325.Google ScholarPubMed
Bloom, B.L. & Asher, S.J. (1982). Psychiatric Patient Rights and Patient Advocacy. Human Sciences Press: New York.Google Scholar
Breton, M. (1994). On the meaning of empowerment and empowerment-oriented social work practice. Social Work with Groups 17, 23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Centre for Research and Education in Human Services (1987). Advocacy in Psychiatric Hospitals: Evaluation of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, pp. 198. Ministry of Health: Ontario.Google Scholar
Checkoway, B. & Norsman, A. (1986). Empowering citizens with disabilities. Community Development Journal 21, 270.Google Scholar
Cromwell, H.S., Howe, J.W. & O'Rear, G. (1988). A citizens' coalition in mental health advocacy: the Maryland experience. Hospital and Community Psychiatry 39, 959.Google ScholarPubMed
Galbraith, D.A. (1988). Advocacy for patients: are outsiders necessary? A psychiatric hospital perspective. Health Law in Canada 8, 108.Google Scholar
Gouvernement de l'Ontario (1987). Vous n'dtes Pas Seul: Examen des Mesures d'Intervention en Faveur des Adultes Vulnerables. Rapport du Groupe d'examen des mesures d'intervention en faveur des adultes vulnerables.Google Scholar
Gouvernement du Quebec (1989). Politique de la Sante Mentale, ler trimestre, pp. 62. Ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux, Quebec.Google Scholar
Gouvernement du Quebec (1992). Droits et Recours en Sante Mentale. Ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux, Quebec.Google Scholar
Gouvernement du Quebec (1994). Training in the Rights and Recourse of Patients in Mental Health Institutions. Ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux, Quebec.Google Scholar
Havel, J.T. (1992). Associations and public interest groups as advocates. Administration and Policy in Mental Health 20, 27.Google Scholar
Herr, S.S., Arons, S. & Wallace, R.E.Legal Rights and Mental Health Care, pp. 257. Lexington Books: Toronto.Google Scholar
Hornblower, M. (1995). Affirmative action, taking it all back. Time, July 31, pp. 34–35.Google Scholar
Nelson, G.The development of a mental health coalition: a case study. American Journal of Community Psychiatry 22, 229.Google Scholar
Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office (1994). Bringing Balance to Mental Care, pp. 88. Consumer/Survivor Empowerment in the Psychiatric Hospital System, Tenth anniversary report, Toronto.Google Scholar
Read, J. & Wallcraft, J. (1995). Guidelines on Advocacy for Mental Health Workers. MIND UNISON Health Care: London.Google Scholar
Robertson, G.B. (1994). Mental Disability and the Law in Canada. Carswell: Toronto.Google Scholar
Rose, S. & Black, B.L. (1985). Advocacy and Empowerment-Mental Health Care in the Community. Routledge & Kegan: London.Google Scholar
Ross, E.C. (1992). Success and failure of advocacy groups: a legislative perspective. Administration and Policy in Mental Health Advocacy 20, 57.Google Scholar
Savage, H. & McKague, C. (1987). Mental Health Law in Canada. Butterworth: Toronto and Vancouver.Google Scholar
Stockdill, J.W. (1992). A government manager's view of mental health advocacy groups. Administration and Policy in Mental Health 20, 45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tefft, B.Social Intervention; Theory and Practice (Advocacy coalitions as a vehicle for mental health system reform), Lewiston, New York, pp. 155–185.Google Scholar
Trainor, J., Lurie, S., Ballantyne, R. & Long, D. (1987). The supporting housing coalition: a model for advocacy and program development. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health 6, 93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turner, T., Madill, M.F. & Solberg, D. (1984). Patient advocacy: the Ontario experience. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 7, 329.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wolfenberger, W. (1977). Mental Health Advocacy: an Emerging Force in Consumer Rights, pp. 16–19. US Printing Office: Washington DC.Google Scholar

REFERENCES

Centre for Research and Education in Human Services (1987). Advocacy in Psychiatric Hospitals: Evaluation of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, pp. 198. Ministry of Health: Ontario.Google Scholar
Cromwell, H.S., Howe, J.W. & O'Rear, G. (1988). A citizens' coalition in mental health advocacy: the Maryland experience. Hospital and Community Psychiatry 39, 959.Google ScholarPubMed
Galbraith, D.A. (1988). Advocacy for patients: are outsiders necessary? A psychiatric hospital perspective. Health Law in Canada 8, 108.Google ScholarPubMed
Hornblower, M. (1995). Affirmative action, taking it all back. Time, July 31, pp. 34–35.Google Scholar
Read, J. & Wallcraft, J. (1994). Guidelines on Advocacy for Mental Health Workers. MIND UNISON Health Care: London.Google Scholar