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15 - The Swedish Personal Ombudsman: Support in Decision-Making and Accessing Human Rights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2021

By
Ulrika Järkestig Berggren
Edited by
Michael Ashley Stein ,
Faraaz Mahomed ,
Vikram Patel  and
Charlene Sunkel
Michael Ashley Stein
Affiliation:
Harvard Law School
Faraaz Mahomed
Affiliation:
Wits University
Vikram Patel
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School
Charlene Sunkel
Affiliation:
Global Mental Health Peer Network
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Summary

De-institutionalisation of people with mental health conditions brought about the need to develop community-based support. In response to a request from user organisations, the Personal Ombudsman was implemented. This service provides professional support on behalf of the person seeking help to obtain his or her citizen rights in society. The personal ombudsman occupies a freestanding position, independent of authorities, and reports recurring social issues affecting persons with psychosocial disabilities directly to the national agency for healthcare and social services. In 2001, this service was permanently implemented and is provided free of charge for persons with psychosocial disabilities. Personal ombudsmen are to act only on the behalf of their clients, often concerning issues of daily provision, homelessness, medical treatment and improper reception from professionals in medical and social services. The first step in the relationship between the personal ombudsman and the client is to help the client formulate his own decisions on how he wants to proceed with the present problem. The second step is often aiding the client by advocating his perspective in decision-making with professionals responsible for his rights. This chapter illustrates the working relationship between the personal ombudsmen and their clients and the decision-making process therein.

Type
Chapter
Information
Mental Health, Legal Capacity, and Human Rights , pp. 230 - 243
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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