ETHICS AND MENTAL

HEALTH: TOWARDS A
RIGHTS-BASED MODEL
 Introduction:
Despite many positive & improvement to modern
psychiatry & psychology , however still have
many ethical challenges.

Actually, a duty of care & an ethical code ensure

the rights and dignities of clients. These are not
the formal laws but guidelines to assist
professionals, consumers and community for
decision making.
In addition to carers should be more accountable,
and consumers are more concern their rights.
Thus, the rights-based model of mental health has
arisen.

This rights-based model is examined through

mental health research, diagnosis and treatment.
1. Research
• Evidence-based research
• Make sure the ethical standards are upheld,
4 common safeguards are recommended:
informed consent, confidentiality, volunatry
participation and debriefing.
A. Informed Consent
Participants have right to:
• Full explanation of the nature of the
research
• What costs and benefits exist
• Information must be clear, concise
• Use a language they understand
B. Confidentiality
• Use anonymity e.g. coding system
• Research data keep in a locked filing
cabinet & have password for computer
access
• Keep information in a separate location
• Never disclose to a third party unless you
have participant’s consent
C. Voluntary Participation
• Ensure the participant is voluntary to
involvement, i.e. participant free to
withdraw & discontinue in the research at
any stage
D. Debriefing
• Is also called Feedback
• Provide the participant with a full
clarification of the purpose of the study
• How they have contributed to the research
• Address any questions or misconceptions
• Clarification should be clear, concise & the
language they understand
2. Diagnosis

• A label of the client

• Formal diagnosis made by the trained
professional who has knowledge, skill &
experience in psychiatric classification
A. Diagnostic & Statistical
Manual (DSM)
• Psychiatric classification and diagnosis are
based on the medical model
• Use biological framework to explain and
treat symptoms
• Mental health diagnosis will more complex
and uncertain
• DSM is the bible of psychiatry and clinical
psychology
B. Stigma
• Diagnosis can be helpful which explain the
symptoms or give hope of an effective
treatment.
• Also is harmful which provide a social
stigma (label) and may cause target of
abuse or discrimination. This is a barrier for
these client to recover.
C. Problems With Psychiatric
Diagnosis

3. Treatment
• Ensure individuals are helped not harmed
A. Institutional Care
• Respect clients’ right
• Aim at the client success to integrated back
into society
B. Community and Residential
Care
• Return to community does not mean to
close the file. To follow their condition is
also important such as the side effect of
psychotropic drugs, whether take the
medication or not. These will influence
their mental illness condition or relapse
Mental-health illness is not just responsible by
professionals, and the mainly is to support
by Community.