Rights of persons with mental illness in Central America

This paper reports a diagnostic inquiry on the human rights situation of persons with mental disorders in four Central American countries. The study was conducted by teams constituted of mental health workers and human rights lawyers, using a standard questionnaire prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adapted for regional purposes by the America-based WHO office. The inquiry identified violations in different areas, e.g., involuntary admissions, informed consent and others. In general, violations were not associated with the level of social development of the country but with the affiliation of the care-giving system (private vs. public). This study will be followed by activities aimed at improving the current situation.