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Advocacy in the mental health services field

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

Nicole Fontaine  and
Elisabeth Allard
Nicole Fontaine*
Affiliation:
Ministère des Relations avec les Citoyens et de l'Immigration, Gouvernement du Québec, Montréal, Québec
Elisabeth Allard*
Affiliation:
Conseil Provisorie des Malades, Montréal, Québec
*
Indirizzo per la corrispondenza: Mrs. N. Fontaine, Sous-ministre, Ministere des Relations avec les Citoyens et de l'Immigration, Gouvernement du Québec, 360 rue McGill, Montréal H2Y 2E9 (Québec).
Mrs. E. Allard, lawyer, is agent de liaison, Conseil' Provisoire des Malades, Montreal. Fax +1-514-864.2255.
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Summary

Objective — Advocacy in the mental health services field is gaining importance since the traditional role of mental health hospitals is changing, particularly in North America and in Western Europe. This review will define advocacy, its goals and fundamental principles. It will then delineate the skills and strategies needed for any intervention on behalf of a patient or a group of patients. It will also deal with the issues and approaches most frequently raised and used, and finally, with the limits of advocacy. Method — The method used for this review was mainly a recension of the literature concerning advocacy throughout North America and Europe, having in view to see emerging the principal stakes and concerns related to this process. Results — Advocacy has a significant impact patients' awareness of their rights and their capacity to exercise them. It also prevents potential abuse of patients. On the other hand, some patients have an increased opportunity to cease treatment, and this could lead to serious medical consequences. There is also the possibility of retaliation from staff, as a result of being involved with an advocate. The combination of high quality care and effective advocacy is the best guarantee that a mental health patient will get the care he wants and needs with human dignity.

Riassunto

Scopo — L'advocacy nel campo dei servizi di salute mentale sta acquistando importanza in seguito al cambiamento del ruolo tradizionale degli ospedali psichiatrici, particolarmente in Nord America e in Europa occidentale. Questo articolo si propone di definire l'advocacy, i suoi obiettivi ed i principi fondamentali. Inoltre intende delineare le capacità e le strategie necessarie per ogni intervento in favore di un paziente o di un gruppo di pazienti. Si occupa anche degli argomenti e degli approcci più frequentemente sviluppati ed utilizzati ed infine dei limiti della difesa legale. Metodo — Il metodo usato in questo articolo si basa soprattutto sulla recensione della letteratura relativa all'advocacy in Nord America ed in Europa, con lo scopo di rendere evidenti i principali vantaggi e interessi collegati a questo processo. Risultati — L'advocacy ha un impatto significativo sulla consapevolezza di pazienti riguardo ai loro diritti e alle loro capacità di esercitarli. Inoltre previene potenziali abusi sui pazienti. D'altra parte, alcuni pazienti ottengono una crescente opportunità di interrompere il trattamento, e ciò potrebbe condurre a gravi conseguenze dal punto di vista medico. La combinazione di un'alta qualità di cura e di una reale difesa giuridica è la migliore garanzia che il paziente psichiatrico ottenga la cura che desidera e di cui ha bisogno, nel rispetto della dignità umana.

Keywords

advocacypsychiatryhealthrightsadvocacypsichiatriasalutediritti.
Type
Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , April 1997 , pp. 29 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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Centre for Research and Education in Human Services (1987). Advocacy in Psychiatric Hospitals: Evaluation of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office, pp. 198. Ministry of Health: Ontario.Google Scholar
Cromwell, H.S., Howe, J.W. & O'Rear, G. (1988). A citizens' coalition in mental health advocacy: the Maryland experience. Hospital and Community Psychiatry 39, 959.Google ScholarPubMed
Galbraith, D.A. (1988). Advocacy for patients: are outsiders necessary? A psychiatric hospital perspective. Health Law in Canada 8, 108.Google ScholarPubMed
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