1. September 2012
Human rights training
Proposal
Amnesty International Ireland (AI) is planning to develop training for mental health
professionals on the key themes of human rights, recovery and mental health. The
reference point is the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Programme for Government has committed to ensuring mental health and
capacity legislation will be developed in line with the Convention; this training will
seek to engage mental health professionals on the human rights principles and
values the Convention is based upon. In particular, the current review of the 2001
Mental Health Act offers an ideal opportunity to offer practical information on these
central issues in an accessible and user-friendly format.
We propose to develop an e-learning module, part devised and delivered by
experts by experience, to deliver recovery and human rights training to mental health
professionals. Our aim for this project is to enhance the recovery ethos by integrating
human rights principles and values into the culture of the mental health services,
ensuring that:
 for service users the engagement with professionals is a positive experience;
 the attitudes and behaviours of staff are respectful to service users in keeping
with the recovery ethos; and
 the culture of mental health services is based on human rights principles and
values.
Background information
In 2010 we published Hear my voice: challenging mental health prejudice and
discrimination, research conducted by DCU School of Nursing. It found that more
than half (58 per cent of) the respondents said mental health staff had treated them
unfairly. We also know from extensive focus group work with experts by experience
that a positive experience with mental health services is crucial for recovery.
Why this approach?
 An e-module was chosen as the best approach for the timeframe we have,
but we are aware it will need additional practical elements to ensure it has the
desired impact.
 There was a suggestion that as well as a training module a poster or
resource would have value. Literally bringing human rights into the services
with a visual display.
 Whatever we do should have very practical application. It should look at
very real scenarios - first admittance, being administered medication,
preliminary meetings, etc - and how a human rights based approach might
make a difference.
 There are a lot of different recovery and service user initiatives under way.
We need to be clear what we offer is a useful addition to a crowded arena.
Our strength, expertise and added value is very clearly human rights
and advocating for change. There will be an action element as part of the e-
learning module so that all stakeholders see individual and collective change
as part of their remit.