The theme of European Patients' Rights Day 2024 is Combining the protection of patients' rights with skills shortage, medical desertification, and job strain. The key role of HCPs for a healthier Europe.
On European Patients' Rights Day 2024, we stand united in supporting patient rights amidst the daunting challenges of skills shortages, medical desertification, and job strain faced by healthcare professionals. The European Network of Active Living for Mental Health reaffirms its commitment to ensuring every individual's access to quality healthcare, regardless of circumstance. We recognize the profound impact of these challenges on patients and healthcare providers alike, but we also see hope in the resilience of our healthcare workforce and the innovative solutions being forged. Together, let us uphold patient rights and work towards a healthier, more equitable future for all.
- Right to Preventive Measures: Active Living for Mental Health
- Promoting the integration of active living initiatives into mental health promotion efforts as a preventive measure against mental illness.
- Emphasizing the role of regular physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices, and social engagement in reducing the risk of developing mental health disorders and enhancing overall well-being.
- Advocating for community-based programs that promote active living, and provide resources, and support for individuals to adopt and maintain healthy behaviors as a means of preventing mental illness and promoting resilience.
- Right of Access: Ensuring Equitable Access to Active Living for Mental Health Services
- Ensuring equitable access to mental health services that incorporate active living principles, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location.
- Advocating for the development of inclusive and accessible active living programs that cater to the diverse needs and preferences of individuals with mental health conditions.
- Calling for policies and initiatives that address barriers to access, including stigma, discrimination, and lack of resources, to ensure that everyone can benefit from the therapeutic effects of physical activity on mental health.
- Right to Information: Empowering Individuals through Education on Active Living for Mental Health
- Providing individuals with comprehensive information about the benefits of active living for mental health and well-being, including evidence-based strategies for incorporating physical activity into daily life.
- Promoting health literacy and awareness campaigns that highlight the connection between physical activity, stress reduction, mood enhancement, and cognitive function to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their mental health.
- Leveraging digital platforms and community resources to disseminate information and resources on active living for mental health, ensuring that individuals have access to the knowledge and support they need to prioritize their mental well-being.
- Right to Consent: Fostering Autonomy and Participation in Active Living for Mental Health
- Respecting the autonomy of individuals with mental health conditions and involving them in decisions regarding their participation in active living interventions.
- Providing individuals with information and resources to make informed choices about the types of physical activities and interventions that align with their preferences, abilities, and treatment goals.
- Collaborating with healthcare providers and mental health professionals to ensure that active living interventions are tailored to the individual needs and preferences of each person, promoting a sense of empowerment and ownership over their mental health journey.
- Right to Free Choice: Offering Diverse Options for Active Living and Mental Health Support
- Recognizing the importance of offering individuals with mental health conditions a range of options for engaging in active living activities and accessing mental health support services.
- Promoting a person-centered approach to care that respects individual preferences and values, allowing individuals to choose from a variety of physical activities, settings, and support systems that best meet their needs and interests.
- Advocating for the integration of active living opportunities into existing mental health treatment programs and community support services, ensuring that individuals have access to a continuum of care that addresses both their physical and mental health needs.
- Right to Privacy and Confidentiality: Creating Safe and Supportive Environments for Active Living and Mental Health
- Ensuring the confidentiality of personal health information and protecting the privacy of individuals participating in active living programs for mental health.
- Establishing safe and supportive environments where individuals feel comfortable engaging in physical activity and seeking mental health support without fear of stigma, discrimination, or judgment.
- Implementing privacy safeguards and security measures to protect the sensitive data of individuals participating in active living interventions, fostering trust and confidence in the healthcare system, and promoting a culture of respect and dignity for all.
- Right to Respect of Patients’ Time: Promoting Timely Access to Active Living Opportunities for Mental Health
- Recognizing the importance of timely access to active living opportunities for individuals with mental health conditions to promote recovery, resilience, and well-being.
- Advocating for the development of flexible and responsive active living programs that accommodate the schedules and preferences of individuals with mental health conditions, ensuring that they can access support when they need it.
- Collaborating with community organizations, healthcare providers, and mental health professionals to streamline access to active living opportunities and reduce wait times for participation, promoting a culture of respect for individuals' time and priorities.
- Right to the Observance of Quality Standards: Ensuring High-Quality Active Living Interventions for Mental Health
- Upholding high standards of quality and effectiveness in active living interventions for mental health, based on evidence-based practices and best practices in the field.
- Implementing quality assurance mechanisms and performance metrics to monitor the delivery and outcomes of active living programs, ensuring that they meet the diverse needs and preferences of individuals with mental health conditions.
- Collaborating with accreditation bodies, professional organizations, and stakeholders to establish and uphold standards of excellence in the design, implementation, and evaluation of active living interventions for mental health, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
- Right to Safety: Ensuring Safe and Supportive Environments for Active Living and Mental Health
- Prioritizing the safety and well-being of individuals participating in active living programs for mental health, minimizing the risk of injury, harm, or adverse events.
- Implementing safety protocols and guidelines to promote physical and emotional safety during physical activity sessions, ensuring that individuals feel comfortable and supported throughout their participation.
- Providing adequate supervision, training, and support for staff and volunteers involved in facilitating active living interventions for mental health, promoting a culture of safety and trust within the program environment.
- Right to Innovation: Harnessing Technology and Innovation for Active Living and Mental Health
- Embracing innovation and technology as tools for enhancing the effectiveness and accessibility of active living interventions for mental health.
- Leveraging digital platforms, mobile applications, and virtual reality tools to deliver engaging and interactive active living experiences that promote mental well-being and social connection.
- Collaborating with researchers, technologists, and entrepreneurs to develop and implement cutting-edge solutions for promoting active living and mental health, ensuring that individuals have access to innovative interventions that align with their preferences and needs.
- Right to Avoid Unnecessary Suffering and Pain: Promoting Holistic Approaches to Active Living and Mental Health
- Prioritizing holistic approaches to active living for mental health that address physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, minimizing the risk of unnecessary suffering and pain.
- Integrating mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and stress reduction strategies into active living programs to promote emotional resilience and enhance coping skills.
- Providing comprehensive support and resources for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, ensuring that they have access to the tools and strategies they need to manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.
- Right to Personalized Treatment: Tailoring Active Living Interventions to Individual Needs and Preferences
- Recognizing the unique needs and preferences of individuals with mental health conditions and tailoring active living interventions to meet their individual goals and aspirations.
- Conducting thorough assessments of each individual's physical and mental health status, functional abilities, and personal preferences to inform the design and delivery of personalized active living programs.
- Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and community support workers, to develop holistic treatment plans that address the complex interplay of physical and mental health factors, promoting optimal outcomes and well-being.
- Right to Complain: Empowering Individuals to Advocate for their Rights and Needs
- Empowering individuals with mental health conditions to voice concerns, grievances, and complaints about their active living experiences and access to mental health support services.
- Providing accessible and transparent channels for individuals to submit feedback, raise concerns, and seek resolution for issues related to their participation in active living programs.
- Promoting a culture of accountability and responsiveness within active living organizations and mental health service providers, ensuring that individuals' concerns are taken seriously and addressed in a timely and respectful manner.
14. Right to Compensation: Ensuring Redress for Harm Caused by Negligence or Misconduct
- Affirming the right of individuals to seek compensation for physical, emotional, and psychological harm caused by negligence, misconduct, or substandard care in active living programs or mental health services.
- Providing individuals with information and support to navigate the process of seeking compensation for harm caused by breaches of their rights or failures in duty of care.
- Advocating for policies and procedures that prioritize accountability, transparency, and restitution in cases where individuals have suffered harm as a result of negligence or misconduct in the provision of active living or mental health services.
