Recovery and user perspective
Perhaps the term "mental health" can be distinguished most powerfully from the term "psychiatry" in that it emphasizes the recovery process of people having experienced a mental or behavioral disorder. The recovery process requires an active, willful, participatory attitude and stance on the part of those concerned. Such a process that takes root in personal ways and through personal, but can be supported and buttressed through policy action. The Montreal WHO/PAHO-CC has been integrating this perspective in several projects that increase the impact of service-user perspectives. The input of carers is also part of some of these endeavors. The two projects are:
- Project 1: Community Empowerment and Recovery in Belize
- Project 2: Service user input into the ICD revision
Other Activities
- Regional Meeting of Mental Health Service Users and Families – Brasilia, 15-17 October 2013.
- Objectives of this conference were to 1. Promote the exchange of personal and institutional experiences on autonomy and leadership of users and their families in the Region, to encourage their participation in the organization and evaluation of mental health services; 2. Contribute to the strengthening of user participation in political decisions, according to the agreements signed at the regional level; 3.Promote discussion and reflection of mental health public policy in the Region, particularly its development in Brazil; 4.Commemorate World Mental Health Day at the national and regional level
A consultant to the Montreal WHO-PAHO-CC with expertise in MH empowerment and advocacy issues was invited to this conference, and slated to attend, but difficulties obtaining a visa in time prevented her participation.
We fully expect to be involved again in any further such initiatives in South America.
- Partner Visit from Belize
The Montreal WHO-PAHO-CC received, in 2012, a visit from a representative of the MoH of Belize – Elma Augustine – to explore further collaborations in the area of recovery and empowerment.
- Mouvement international citoyenneté et santé mentale
The Montreal CC was invited by the Mouvement international citoyenneté et santé mentale to participate in various activities and meetings over this period.
We foresee these links strengthening, and fully compatible with the aims and priorities of the Montreal-WHO-PAHO-CC.
- Rétablissement et pleine citoyenneté
The Montreal-CC participated in this International conference in November 2012 (Association Québécoise de la Réadaptation Psychosociale), both in the as a member of the scientific committee, for an international Forum (‘Pertinence et utilité d’un mouvement international citoyenneté et santé mentale’), and for a panel (‘Perspectives Internationales’), representing international views on recovery.
