Mental health as a human right in the context of recovery after disaster and conflict

Abstract

Natural disaster and armed conflict can have a profound impact on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of the affected population. Furthermore, mental health problems contribute significantly to the global burden of disability, especially in low-resource countries. Several international human rights conventions affirm the obligation of state governments to protect, promote and fulfill the right to health, including mental health. However, the right to mental health has not received adequate attention from national and international institutions and organizations. Mental health is still not a priority on the global agenda and is often neglected in recovery and development efforts after disaster or conflict. Individuals involved in the mental health field may benefit from familiarity with relevant human rights documents and guidelines which can inform research, practice and advocacy efforts.

Keywords:

• human rights
• mental health
• psychosocial
• conflict
• war
• disaster
• humanitarian
• recovery
• development

Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.