The Right to Mental Health : A Human Rights Approach

The book demonstrates that the existing right to the highest attainable standard of health is inadequate to fully promote and protect the right to mental health, particularly regarding access to quality mental healthcare. Relevant additional human rights in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are examined to address these shortcomings. The COVID-19 pandemic has made mental health a global priority. Despite the increasing recognition of the significance of mental health, there are still questions about how existing human rights laws can be understood and used to fully promote and protect people’ s mental health.The objective of this study is to advance the right to mental health. To achieve this, the study brings together (1) the components of mental health stipulated in the highest attainable standard of health norm, and (2) other unique and interdependent human rights that are relevant to mental health, and integrates them into an extensive “ right to mental health” framework. Additionally, pertinent legal challenges are discussed and the influence of tradition on issues related to mental health is highlighted.