Campaign to End Chaining Mentally Ill Urges Somaliland to Act

Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children from 60 countries around the world live in chains, just because they have a mental health problem. It happens because of stigma and fear, as well as the neglect of governments.

Together, we can end this inhumane practice. By signing the #BreakTheChains pledge, you join a global movement that believes that all people should be able to live with dignity. We will urge governments, institutions and religious authorities to end the use of chains.

We investigated, presented our findings and launched a movement against the use of chains that has freed thousands of people in Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria and Somaliland.

How did we get there? In Indonesia, for example, as a result of our interviews across the country, our analysis and our advocacy, the government has stepped up its commitment to breaking the chains. Today more than 48 million households in the country have access to community mental health services.

Now we are going global to end the use of chains. With the support of the public, local organizations and mental health officials, we will influence policy and practice. Through our work, we want to help create a world where people with mental health issues can thrive, receive the services and support they need, and live free from stigma, discrimination or abuse.

#BreakTheChains is a movement that brings together organizations around the world to end the chain of people with mental health issues. Members of our coalition include disability organizations, anti-torture and human rights groups, and activists. We use our accumulated expertise to end the chain and to ensure that people with mental health issues have equal rights and live with dignity.

The 56-page report, “Living in Chains: Shackling of People with Psychosocial Disabilities Worldwide”. Shows that people with mental illnesses are often chained up by their own families at home or in overcrowded facilities in unsanitary conditions and mostly against their will. The reasons for this are the widespread stigmatization of mentally ill people and a lack of psychiatric health care. Many are forced to eat and sleep in a confined space and also to relieve themselves there. In state or privately-operated facilities as well as in traditional or religious healing centers, they are often forced to fast and take medication or herbal preparations

The “Break the Chains” Campaign. While a number of countries are paying more attention to the issue of mental health, the chaining remains largely hidden. There are no coordinated international or regional data or efforts to eradicate the shackles. In response, Human Rights Watch worked with experienced mental health advocates and human rights and anti-torture organizations around the world to launch a global #BreakTheChains campaign and thus put an end to the chaining of people with mental health conditions. Human Rights Watch interviewed over 350 people with psychosocial disabilities, including children, and 430 family members, staff working in institutions, mental health professionals, faith healers, government officials, and disability rights advocates. Based on a study of 110 countries, Human Rights Watch found evidence of chaining of people with mental health conditions across age groups, ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic strata, and urban and rural areas in approximately 60 countries.

792 million people in the world with mental illness. Globally, it is estimated that 792 million people, or 1 in 10, including 1 in 5 children, have a mental health condition. Yet governments spend less than two percent of their health budgets on mental health. More than two-thirds of countries do not reimburse people for mental health services in national health insurance systems. Even when mental health services are free or subsidized, distance and transportation costs are a significant obstacle. In the absence of adequate mental health support and lack of awareness, many families feel they have no choice but to chain their relatives. They are often worried that the person might escape or hurt themselves or others

As a theater of this inhume practice, Somaliland NGOs should be involved in this campaign preventing mentally ill people from being chained, which has been launched in many countries around the world, where this practice is very common.

Access HRW Full Report: here