BE RIGHT: Training Program in Human Rights for Professionals working in social and health care sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

BE RIGHT: Training Program in Human Rights for Professionals working in social and health care sector

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Open and distance learning; Home and justice affairs (human rights & rule of law); Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

Due to the social stigma surrounding their pathology, People with mental illness (PWMI) still experience social exclusion and are especially vulnerable to have their basic Human Rights violated in different spheres of their lives. Contrary to what one may think, the violation can take place in the framework of health and social care services- such as community service centers, day care centers or physicians’ offices, among others- either because of paternalism, prejudice or ignorance of the service providers. Organizations and health and social service professionals (HSSP)- but also family members and individuals affected by mental health condition- may consider as valid some decisions and actions that imply violation of rights, because they often don’t realize that certain practices actually abuse basic human rights.

When it comes to vulnerable groups, such as people with mental disability, the mere contemplation of Human Right principles in our countries’ legislation doesn’t itself assure their observance in the practice. What DOES assure it, are well trained and sensitized professionals who put Human Rights in practice.

BE RIGHT project consortium- composed of 6 organizations referent in Research/ Health and Social Services Provision/ VET Education delivery from 5 EU countries- joined forces to together develop the first sector specific training course in Human Rights of PWMI applied to the context of health and social services provision. The course is addressed at health and social services professionals working with persons living with mental illness. It is composed of 15 theoretical-practical training units with a double focus, on the one hand, equipping the professionals with baseline knowledge about human rights in context of social and health services and, on the other hand, addressing practical application of the human rights approach in the context of provision of services to PWMI. The objective is for Health and Social Service Professionals (HSSP) to be introduced to, sensitized and finally able to put in practice the human rights based approach in their working context.

The course has been designed in co-production between service users- experts by experience- and professionals in the field of Mental Health, VET training and Human Rights from 5 European organizations. Thanks to its e-learning format the final version of the training course is available free of charge in 6 languages to any professional or organization interested in offering the training course to its professionals at https://training.beright-mh.eu/?lang=en

BE RIGHT project partners believe that the extreme vulnerability of PWMI against their human rights violation can be stopped only if they themselves know their rights and are aware of which treatment received is correct and which is not only not correct but also reportable. Considering the specific conditions of PWMI- whose concentration and learning ability is often limited due to the illness symptoms and/or as side effect of the medication- BE RIGHT project developed a tailor made, accessible educational board game that- in an easy and fun way- helps to provide the PWMI with empowering knowledge about their Human Rights as citizens, patients and service users. All the materials necessary to assemble and play the game- the board, activity cards with questions/tasks, instructions and answers book- are available for download and printing in 6 languages, free of charge, on the Be Right project website: http://www.beright-mh.eu/index.php/educational-board-game/

The main innovative aspect and the added value of the BE RIGHT project lies in the fact that the project’s consortium created a bottom up working context within the project, where the two target groups- people with first-hand experience of mental illness and professionals providing health and social services- worked hand in hand, together with the partner organizations at all stages (co-production): needs analysis, educational tools development, pedagogical test of the pilot version of the tools, developing the final version of the tools.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 185844 Eur

Project Coordinator

FUNDACION INTRAS & Country: ES

Project Partners

• PRO MENTE OBEROSTERREICH-GESELLSCHAFT FUR PSYCHISCHE UND SOZIALE GESUNDHEIT VEREIN
• Etairia Koinonikis Psixiatrikis kai Psixikis Ygeias
• EUROPEAN PLATFORM FOR REHABILITATION
• VIESOJI ISTAIGA VALAKUPIU REABILITACIJOS CENTRAS
• ESCUELA ANDALUZA DE SALUD PUBLICA SA