NAMI of Hennepin County Position Paper*
Re: Dignity in Mental Health Services
NAMI OF HENNEPIN COUNTY BELIEVES THAT people with mental illness and their loved ones deserve to be treated with dignity at all times and in all settings. Individuals with mental illness and their support people deserve the same respect and consideration as people who use health care services for any other diagnosis or health concern.
People deserve to be treated kindly, without shaming or assigning blame for illness symptoms. Victim-blaming and family-blaming are inappropriate and extremely destructive to the care process. Even people with symptoms that result in behaviors that cause harm to others deserve to be treated as individuals with a variety of skills and life experiences.
NAMI of HENNEPIN COUNTY RECOMMENDS THAT:
* This Position Paper represents the opinions of the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County, and only the opinions of the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County. This Position Paper was adopted by the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County on June 8, 2015, and is subject to revision by the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County. This Position Paper represents the opinions of NAMI of Hennepin County with respect to broad public policy, and is not intended as, and should not be relied upon, as advice or guidance to any specific individual, in any specific situation, at any specific time or place.
- Dignity in mental health treatment means that:
- People receiving services are treated respectfully at all times;
- That their identity is not solely defined by their status as a mental health consumer;
- That there is no assumption of lesser intelligence, and providers do not “talk down” to people receiving treatment.
- That people receiving treatment are addressed respectfully, including at times when they are agitated or in crisis.
People deserve to be treated kindly, without shaming or assigning blame for illness symptoms. Victim-blaming and family-blaming are inappropriate and extremely destructive to the care process. Even people with symptoms that result in behaviors that cause harm to others deserve to be treated as individuals with a variety of skills and life experiences.
NAMI of HENNEPIN COUNTY RECOMMENDS THAT:
- Providers of mental health services should respect the dignity of the person served in assessment, planning, treatment and aftercare.
- The process of treatment planning should always include input and guidance from the individual receiving services, regardless of whether the person is voluntarily or involuntarily receiving services.
- Family and support person input should also be sought when it is desired by the person receiving services.
- People receiving mental health services should be offered information about the services that they are receiving, so that they understand the pros and cons of different treatment options, so as to increase their ability to provide input into their treatment, consistent with their individual recovery goals.
- People using services and their support people need to have adequate information on privacy and confidentiality so that information sharing can take place to the degree desired.
- People who are using mental health services should have access to information about ombudsperson programs as well as protection and advocacy agencies, so that they can access assistance in advocating for themselves if they are dissatisfied with the services they receive.
- Providers of inpatient and community-based mental health services should receive training in recovery-based and patient/family-centered approaches to care.
- Mental health advocates—including people with lived experiences, their support people, and mental health providers—should advocate for policies and programs that emphasize the dignity and individuality of every service user.
* This Position Paper represents the opinions of the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County, and only the opinions of the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County. This Position Paper was adopted by the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County on June 8, 2015, and is subject to revision by the Board of Directors of NAMI of Hennepin County. This Position Paper represents the opinions of NAMI of Hennepin County with respect to broad public policy, and is not intended as, and should not be relied upon, as advice or guidance to any specific individual, in any specific situation, at any specific time or place.