Testimonials

One feels a sense of immense satisfaction and honour to grow and develop together with people—faculty, coordinators, fellow students—when you experience with them a coherent sense that, “Our heart lies in the right place.” The diploma extended my knowledge of the global scenario while harnessing my skills into tools and techniques like advocacy and research, to name a few. The outcome was the establishment of ‘Kaitley Foundation’, a non-profit initiative in U.P., India addressing sustainable solutions for persons recovering from mental illness.

Many years before I enrolled in the Diploma Programme I was already looking forward to it because I consider it an essential training for all of us who are interested in the protection of the rights of people with mental health conditions. The experience of doing the Diploma was one of the most interesting in my life. The exchange of experiences with other students from around the world, and the team’s knowledge, professionalism and friendliness made it truly enriching.

I was drawn to the Postgraduate Diploma in International Mental Health, Law, Policy & Rights-based Services (formerly known as the International Diploma in Mental Health, Human Rights & Law) due to my deep interest in advancing and changing the mental health narrative in my country. Coming from one of the poorest countries in the world, where no mental health systems are in place, this programme was the ideal opportunity to learn how to develop mental health policies and laws and become a better advocate. It provided a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between mental health care, laws, and policies, and helped me understand how legal frameworks protect the rights of individuals with mental health issues. The research project was a specific strength, allowing me to contribute original insights to mental health development. The faculty members are highly experienced, supportive, and often provide personal guidance and mentorship to help students achieve their academic and professional goals.

International Diploma in Mental Health Law & Human Rights enrich me with an important acknowledgment which gives me a solid ground of experience to improve and widen my vision in improving my work area.

It gave me an experience of what is the important and essential things about the modern policies in mental health services and how we can provide these services in a way which satisfies the client needs, and the importance of respect of clients’ rights and empower them to exercise their rights and integrate them into a community.

Also, it gave me the chance to be the defender of these clients’ rights through my participation on Monitoring Committee about human rights in mental health hospital in my country and another chance to evaluate the level of professional awareness about clients’ human rights in all mental health facilities in my country.

This Diploma has been an exceedingly fruitful and enriching experience for me. This may be attributed to the combination of a highly experienced and reputed faculty, the diverse group of students from varied backgrounds and nationalities, and the carefully crafted and well-structured modules encompassing all aspects of human rights, law and mental health.

Through classroom discussions, quizzes, essays, projects, and enthralling debates, the course equipped us with various tools to implement change for a more inclusive and human-rights friendly society.

For me, the highlight of the Diploma was its international flavour, and the opportunity to build networks with global leaders, professionals, users, carers, and activists. We have continued to stay in touch and plan initiatives to achieve our common goal for the mental health field worldwide.

The course gave me knowledge about mental health laws in different countries of the world and its violations, stigma, Rights of Persons with Mental Disorders (PMD), Rights of Caregivers in accordance with UNCRPD (ratified by most of the countries) through power point presentations and group discussions, video conferencing with mental health professionals from across the world. In India, PMD are denied the basic insurance coverage life as well as health. The course helped me to understand their rights and made me promise to self to make the policy makers aware. Hopefully, this right, beautifully incorporated in the new drafted MH Act of India by esteemed professionals will see the light of the day.

I’m very delighted with this interactive, multidisciplinary and critical course. It strengthened me to always take stock of the national and international provisions and standards, look for likely shortcomings and disputable potentials, balance all pros and cons and find a way to apply them in the best way and interest of the persons with mental disabilities. The expertise and the performance of the lecturers were truly high. The given knowledge was also very practical.

I started applying it with the first assignments and successfully used it for the investigation work at the Ombudsmen’s office. Now, after completing the course I feel I have expertise, knowledge, and confidence necessary for the work in this area. I have planned a number of investigations to carry out in the nearest future. The course also gave me fantastic opportunities to create a social network with people dedicated to prevention and promotion of human rights of persons with mental disabilities and carve my own professional path.

The course is extremely practical and replicates the world stage – in its cultural representativeness and professional variety. The faculty and students represent the various players in mental health, law and human rights – from lawyers, advocates to NGO representatives, users, psychiatrists, nurses, researchers and recent graduates.

The community that is formed from such an exchange in combination with new knowledge gained from the lectures and classroom provides graduates of the diploma with highly applicable tools in the vast areas at the intersection of mental health law and human rights.

The Diploma Course exceeded all my expectations. From the drafting and review of legislature and policies to the launching of advocacy campaigns, the students were equipped with a whole range of strategies and measures to actively improve the human rights situation within the mental health field.

The residential sessions in Pune were a unique opportunity to connect with user representatives, advocates, and professionals from all around the globe and to discuss human rights and mental health related issues. The faculty comprised of experts from a range of professional backgrounds and different nationalities, who willingly shared their expertise and – most importantly – were dedicated to the cause of improving the living conditions of persons with mental disabilities worldwide.

Initially, I thought that this course doesn’t have much to do with Australia because we’re a developed nation but then when I actually started realising what was happening in Australia and learning about Human rights & CRPD, I realised that this is relevant to both developed and developing nations and there’s a lot of work that’s required in Australia if we’re going to be in line with the CRPD.

This course of the highest calibre enhanced the depth and breadth of my knowledge which has furthered my ability and confidence in promoting international mental health and human rights. The great source of material was valuable, as was the unique knowledge of the faculty. The feedback I received from the teaching faculty was very insightful. I cannot thank them enough for taking time to comment extensively on my work. The course made me enhance my analytical skills and made me realize that I can always do more than I thought I could to help those who can’t help themselves. I identified my strengths and weaknesses as a lawyer and learned how to provide legal advocacy. I explored how NGOs in the area can shape their work to best capture developments in human rights and how powerful can the ‘’silent yowl’’ of service users be. I’ve met some of the most inspiring teachers, fellow students and best friends I’ve ever had. There is a big distinction between my life pre and post Pune, both professionally and personally. Thank you for this priceless experience.

I know in the United States of America, where I work as a psychiatric social worker, there are a lot of services. But in my country in the Philippines there aren’t too many services for people who have experienced challenges. I’m so glad I went through this course because it demystified law and human rights in line with mental health, which can help me do my part in making policy changes through suggestions and recommendations.

When I came initially in 2012, I realised that Fiji doesn’t have a mental health policy. So, when I came for this course, I decided to use that as my project. Going through this course has helped me formalise the policy.