Oral

This is a joint session between APHA, PAHO/WHO and WHO Europe. It will start by looking at the right to mental health and the human rights failures in involuntary detention of people with mental disability, in psychiatric hospitals in the Americas and in prisons in Europe. The details of the current status of mental health in prisons in Europe will be followed by an account of what WHO Regional Office for Europe has achieved over twelve years through its Health in Prisons Project. The WHO Trencin Statement on Prisons and Mental Health will be outlined. This call for action will lead to the final presentation on examples of action which could be taken.

Session Objectives: 1. Embrace the responsibility for public health leaders around the world to champion the integration of public health principles and human rights norms and standards in all places of involuntary detention. 2. Describe the sustainable public health gains that can be realized through the widespread dissemination and implementation of the WHO Health in Prisons Project approach.