KNOWLEDGE OF NURSING STUDENTS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS OF MENTALLY ILL
Abstract
The United Nations has defined Human Rights as “those rights which are inherent in our nature and without which we cannot live as human beings”1. People with mental disorders are particularly vulnerable to abuse and violation of their rights. If a protective mechanism is not in place, they are susceptible to abuse by society, which includes family members, caregivers, professionals, friends, fellow citizen etc2. Human rights are also connected to mental health in two distinct ways as mental health policy affects human rights and human rights violations affects mental health. Therefore positive promotion of mental health and human rights improves the quality of life and mutually reinforce one on other.
Human rights are basic rights without which no one can survive. Since the Universal Declaration on Human Rights emphasises that everyone has equal rights irrespective of caste, race, nationality or status. It is clear that mentally ill individuals also has rights like other individuals. Despite the monitoring of all mental health institutions by National Human Rights Commission, incidences of violation of human rights are being reported. The researcher believes that if nurses are aware of human rights of mentally ill they can safeguard the human rights. With this intention the study was conducted to assess the knowledge of B.Sc. Nursing students regarding human rights of the mentally ill in selected nursing colleges of Bangalore area.
