Children’s Right to Mental Health in Ethiopia: The Law and the Practice
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Date
2024-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This research was conducted with the aim of assessing the normative and practical barriers against children’s right to mental health in Ethiopia. The research applied a qualitative approach using St. Paul’s Millenium Medical Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Department (OPD) as a Case Study. Data was gathered through Key Informant Interviews, In-depth Interviews, and an Observation Checklist. Then the collected data was transcribed and analyzed thematically. The research found that there are major barriers against children’s right to mental health in Ethiopia due to distance from mental health facilities, lack of information, a limited number of mental health professionals, lack of sufficient resources, unavailability of medication, price of medication, absence of in-patient services, and discrimination and stigma. The government should design a child-specific mental health strategy and prioritize allocating resources toward ensuring quality mental health services are accessible to all children across Ethiopia.
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Keywords
Mental Health, Children’s Right, the Right to Health