The COVID-19 pandemic and the human rights of persons with mental and cognitive impairments subject to coercive powers in Australia

Wilson, Kay

doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2020.101605

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…It is important to limit the abuses of human rights of those with mental health conditions especially by curtailing marginalization and stigmatization and increasing resources toward providing services ( 86 ). Article 11 of the Convention on the rights of individuals with disabilities (CRPD) stipulating that all necessary measures to ensure protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk should be pursued ( 87 ). Furthermore, it is vital to ensure the well-being of caregivers of vulnerable individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Distress and Human Rights Violations During COVID-19: A Rapid Review of the Evidence Informing Rights, Mental Health Needs, and Public Policy Around Vulnerable Populations

et al. 2021

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Background: COVID-19 prevention and mitigation efforts were abrupt and challenging for most countries with the protracted lockdown straining socioeconomic activities. Marginalized groups and individuals are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of the pandemic such as human rights abuses and violations which can lead to psychological distress. In this review, we focus on mental distress and disturbances that have emanated due to human rights restrictions and violations amidst the pandemic. We underscore how mental health is both directly impacted by the force of pandemic and by prevention and mitigation structures put in place to combat the disease.Methods: We conducted a review of relevant studies examining human rights violations in COVID-19 response, with a focus on vulnerable populations, and its association with mental health and psychological well-being. We searched PubMed and Embase databases for studies between December 2019 to July 2020. Three reviewers evaluated the eligibility criteria and extracted data.Results: Twenty-four studies were included in the systematic inquiry reporting on distress due to human rights violations. Unanimously, the studies found vulnerable populations to be at a high risk for mental distress. Limited mobility rights disproportionately harmed psychiatric patients, low-income individuals, and minorities who were at higher risk for self-harm and worsening mental health. Healthcare workers suffered negative mental health consequences due to stigma and lack of personal protective equipment and stigma. Other vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and refugees also experienced negative consequences.Conclusions: This review emphasizes the need to uphold human rights and address long term mental health needs of populations that have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic. Countries can embed a proactive psychosocial response to medical management as well as in existing prevention strategies. International human rights guidelines are useful in this direction but an emphasis should be placed on strengthening rights informed psychosocial response with specific strategies to enhance mental health in the long-term. We underscore that various fundamental human rights are interdependent and therefore undermining one leads to a poor impact on the others. We strongly recommend global efforts toward focusing both on minimizing fatalities, protecting human rights, and promoting long term mental well-being.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Distress and Human Rights Violations During COVID-19: A Rapid Review of the Evidence Informing Rights, Mental Health Needs, and Public Policy Around Vulnerable Populations

et al. 2021

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“…In light of other countries' responses to forced hospitalization for COVID-19-positive patients with mental illness, a balance between patient autonomy and community epidemics seems necessary to adjust the criteria for forced hospitalization. Reference to responses taken by other countries has revealed that the standard of compulsory hospitalization is typically adjusted to achieve a balance between patient autonomy and community epidemics ( Gather et al, 2020 , Griffith, 2020 , Kelly, 2020 , Wilson, 2020 ). Moreover, the risk of spreading infection within the psychotherapy unit is a universally addressed issue: the need for isolation is paramount ( Zuffranieri and Zanalda, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Japanese local government management of compulsory hospitalization for patients with mental disorders and comorbid COVID-19

Naito

Hirosawa

Tsubomoto

et al. 2021

Asian Journal of Psychiatry

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Administering medical treatment or managing quarantine for a patient is particularly difficult when a patient harming others or causing self-harm because of severe depression, a manic state, or psychomotor agitation is also infected with COVID-19. Kanazawa University Hospital is the only facility able to manage such difficult cases occurring in Ishikawa prefecture, a local administrative area in Japan. The hospital has arranged a negative pressure apparatus in a psychiatric ward with two protection rooms. This report describes an urgently established but viable system in one prefecture of Japan for treating COVID-19-infected patients with severe psychiatric symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“…In terms of health, they did not receive enough attention regarding their access to healthcare during the pandemic, due to the new barriers telemedicine has supposed for people with disabilities (Annaswamy et al, 2020). Even research (Wilson, 2020) has shown that the human rights of people with mental and cognitive impairments have been neglected, as some governments' emergency plans have not included their special needs. As an addition to the already existing vulnerability, in relation to the dependence of certain services and other people, the pandemic has brought new challenges to individuals with intellectual disabilities, such as the limited access to information on the disease or its understandability, the risk of losing home support, increasing distress, and behavioral problems (Courtenay, 2020).…”

Section: Covid-19 Impact On Individuals With Intellectual Disabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond the School Walls: Keeping Interactive Learning Environments Alive in Confinement for Students in Special Education

et al. 2021

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The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying safety measures, including confinement, has meant an unprecedented challenge for the world population today. However, it has entailed additional difficulties for specific populations, including children and people with disabilities. Being out of school for months has reduced the learning opportunities for many children, such as those with less academic resources at home or with poorer technological connectivity. For students with disabilities, it has entailed losing the quality of the special attention they often need, in addition to a more limited understanding of the situation. In this context, a case study was conducted in a special education classroom of a secondary education school. This class started implementing Dialogic Literary Gatherings with their special education students before the COVID-19 confinement and continued online during the confinement. Qualitative data was collected after a period of implementation of the gatherings showing positive impacts on the participants. The case study shows that interactive learning environments such as the Dialogic Literary Gatherings can provide quality distance learning for students with disabilities, contributing to overcome some of the barriers that the pandemic context creates for the education of these students.

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The COVID-19 pandemic and the human rights of persons with mental and cognitive impairments subject to coercive powers in Australia

Cited by 20 publications

References 11 publications

Mental Distress and Human Rights Violations During COVID-19: A Rapid Review of the Evidence Informing Rights, Mental Health Needs, and Public Policy Around Vulnerable Populations

Mental Distress and Human Rights Violations During COVID-19: A Rapid Review of the Evidence Informing Rights, Mental Health Needs, and Public Policy Around Vulnerable Populations

Japanese local government management of compulsory hospitalization for patients with mental disorders and comorbid COVID-19

Beyond the School Walls: Keeping Interactive Learning Environments Alive in Confinement for Students in Special Education

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