The report shed light on the main problem: The institutionalization of people with mental health problems is one of the blatant human rights violations across Europe which is integrated in the social policy in most of the countries. While countries have ratified the United Nations Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities, most of them are reluctant to closing old institutions and developing an alternative system, which supports people with disabilities to living and working in the community.
The report states, that there are significant differences between the states, especially between Eastern and Western European countries. Following the west-east slope, we find an increasing rate of people placed under guardianship and living in institutions. But it would be a serious mistake to think that institutions belong only to the post-communist welfare regimes. Institutions and psychiatric hospitals are widespread in Belgium, France or even Germany.
The report is divided into two parts: Gábor Petri and Ágnes Kozma give an overview on the state of deinstitutionalization, guardianship reforms and personal budget at the European level and make important recommendations for further social policies in Europe. The Appendix contains 32 state-reports, all of these give concrete information on the present situation of the national mental health policies.
Download the original report: Mapping Exclusion - Institutional and community-based services in the mental health field in Europe.