Mental Health Policy Forum

Mental health service users are amongst the most vulnerable groups in society, even in the midst of people with disabilities. People with mental health problems are very much stigmatised and socially excluded because of erroneous perceptions and fear in society.

Generally, officials and professionals make decisions about issues concerning mental health service users without consulting with them. Often those decisions do not satisfy their actual needs and wishes. Research has shown that users, their families, carers and NGOs want to have a 'voice' in the issues that affect their lives.

'Pathways to Policy' is a mental health program initiated by international mental health organization Hamlet Trust to bring a change to this trend on the basis of above-mentioned research. In March 2002, 'Pathways to Policy' programme was launched in Tallinn, Estonia. It aims to create new participatory policy processes and public action, develop trust and a shared vision between groups and individuals. The programme's goal is to develop in Tallinn a sustainable model of local policy that can be also transferred to a national context.

Forum enables for local stakeholders with an interest in improving mental health to meet together on a regular basis, share experiences and ideas. Forum is using their expertise to identify problems and to develop creative solutions. It is not merely a 'talking club', but forum members initiate actions to improve mental health. Forum consists of representatives of Tallinn mental health NGO-s, (ex)users of services, family members, social workers, psychiatrists, local officials, academics, nurses, pharmaceutical company, journalists, religious groups, municipal service providers. Users have an essential and unique contribution to make to effective policies, they make up 33% of the forum.

So far 5 Policy Forums and 2 Pre-Forums have been held to discuss stigma, mental health network and employment. Forum has already achieved notable outcomes. New relationships with the media have been developed and articles and interviews have appeared in newspapers and on the radio. This has raised awareness of mental health and has resulted in more people gaining support, advice and services from mental health organisations in Tallinn. Projects designed and initiated by the forum have enabled users to have a greater voice in policy through leading training workshops and public events such as the Open Forum day and the cinema project.

This new approach to mental health policy has ensured local stakeholders have had a place to participate in the policy process and new relationships and partnerships have been created between the local government and civil society.