Mental Health A Human Right

It could be said that throughout history, society has viewed persons with disabilities through a lens of sympathy rather than one of human rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities addresses societal attitudes toward persons with disabilities by affirming the inherent right of all individuals to live life to their fullest potential, whatever that may be.

Importantly, the convention recognizes that persons with disabilities includes individuals who live with mental illness and, who, because of that illness, face accessibility barriers that hinder their full participation in society.

This article was originally published in The Winnipeg Free Press, December 2016. You can find it here or download it here.