What are our human rights? And how organisations use human rights to help communities in Scotland? Yesterday we went along to an event looking at just that. The CHEX Rights Into Reality: Human Rights and Community-led Health conference gave us lots to think about and helped us understand more about the work being done to help people live well in Scotland and the gaps that are still affecting people.

There was a great feeling of a need for change throughout the day. The issue of mental health was raised consistently throughout the event; with many explaining how services can discriminate against people with mental health difficulties. It was fantastic to have people along with a lived experience of mental health services who were especially passionate about what changes need to be made. Organisations like See Me really opened up the issue and detailed the stigma that people with mental health issues can face. In the afternoon we were fortunate to have the Douglas CC HIIC group contributing by performing a play they had written and performed showing how services can let down people with mental health difficulties.

Through events like this we are reminded yet again of how people’s rights are not always met. In West Dunbartonshire we are offering free human rights training sessions to older people’s groups through our Local People Linking project. We will visit groups and create a session based on the needs, concerns and interests of the people in that group. If you are interested, or know a group of people that might be, then get in touch by contacting Jill or Alice. You can find out more by looking at our Local People Linking project page.

Jill: jill.k@otbds.org / 07841015949
Alice: alice@otbds.org / 07925 219 327