Zagreb`Mad Pride 2009' opens

The event dedicated to the rights of persons with mental disabilities is scheduled to happen on Friday.

On the occasion of the international mental health day, association for the social recognition of people with mental disorders, ‘Sjaj’, organizes ‘Mad Pride 2009’. The event’s main theme is the life in community and its goal is to promote the rights of persons with mental disorders. ‘Mad Pride’ is scheduled to happen this Friday at Zagreb’s Cvjetni Trg (Flower Square).

“Social workers, be our allies,” “Judges, understand us,” “Business ability is the right to live” are only some of the banners that “Shine” activists carried while distributing leaflets. Their goal is to encourage the society to change their treatment of persons with mental disabilities and to keep them away from institutional care whenever possible.

‘Sjaj’ coordinator, Kristijan Grdan, said that mental disabilities are 7th in the list of top reasons why Croats visit doctors.  

More than 17 thousand people are deprived of work rights, which inherently strips them of independent decision-making, and a capacity to defend their rights, rule their own property, live independently etc.

More than three thousand people with mental disorders

The social welfare homes for the mentally ill patients house more than three thousand residents, while more than four thousand people are still on the wait list. Persons placed in social welfare institutions often remain there for the rest of their lives.

The practice of denial of all work rights indicates that the state does not take appropriate measures in training people with mental disorders for independent life and work, said Grdan. He added that the personal assistance programs are designed exclusively for people with physical disabilities, while persons with intellectual difficulties or mental disorders do not receive adequate support for independent life in the community.

According to representatives of ‘Sjaj’ only three people with mental disabilities are provided with support for living in the community.