Representing NZ at WHO QualityRights Forum

Ross Phillips Pathways’ business operations manager recently represented New Zealand at the World Health Organization QualityRights Forum in Korea. Ross presented Pathways’ practice and learnings around Tupu Ake, a unique peer-led acute alternative service in South Auckland which is used as an exemplar service around the world. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) QualityRights initiative is working to improve access to quality mental health services globally and to promote the human rights of people with mental health conditions and psychosocial, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities. 

As part of this, the WHO is developing a good practice guidance document which will present information on community-based mental health services that promote human rights and the recovery approach.

The WHO QualityRights team brought together experts from around the world to assist with the development of the guidance document. 

Participants all had a close understanding of different approaches to community based mental health services that demonstrated adherence to rights-based approaches to service provision. Guided by the WHO QualityRights initiative, the good practices discussed at the workshop included services that

• operate without coercion
• promote respect for the right to legal capacity
• involve individuals with lived experience in the framing, delivery and monitoring of the service 
• enable community inclusion.