International human rights law and mental illness

The Irish State has been party to a collection of international treaties and declarations that directly affect the care of those who suffer from mental disorders. These documents set up what are considered as minimum core standards that outline the standard of care that should be provided as a basic human right. This article reviews the relevant sections of these documents and reflects as to how they have been applied in Ireland. International conventions, which have the status of a treaty, are monitored and interpreted by various commissions and committees. This article draws on the comments of these bodies as to how a state should provide for those with mental illness. Areas such as the rights of children who are mentally ill and those who are detained by the state are examined in detail. Other areas covered are the right to the highest attainable level of mental health care, the right not to be subjected to a clinical trial, equal access to mental health care, and the right to be safeguarded against unjust involuntary detention.