Human rights and psychiatric practice in relation to involuntary treatment of young people in Europe

Stavert, Jill; Malmendier-Muehlschegel, Anja; Schulze, Ulrike

Abstract

Aims: International human rights treaties emphasize autonomy and reducing or eliminating psychiatric coercion making which can conflict with involuntary psychiatric treatment. The aim of our workshop is to facilitate a discussion between mental health clinicians from various European jurisdictions. We hope to be able to explore current practice against a human rights based approach with a view to creating human rights-based guiding principles for the involuntary psychiatric treatment of children and young people.
Methods: We will provide an overview of relevant international law. Case vignettes will be discussed focusing on care given in various European jurisdictions, for example by outpatient, inpatient, day patient or intensive home treatment modalities. Particular emphasis will be given to the age and maturity of the young person and the role of parents and carers. Thresholds and safeguards in regards to restrictive measures will be discussed in the context of national legislation and good practice protocols. We will present our own analysis on how these vignettes may be treated in England, Germany and Luxembourg. Participants will be given case scenarios to work on in groups and the results will be discussed at the end of the workshop.
Results and conclusions: The authors have discovered that there is considerable variability between the jurisdictions they are familiar with, particularly in relation to the role of capacity assessments and parental involvement in decision making. We will share our thoughts on these issues and widen the discussion to the findings in the workshop itself, as new perspectives may arise in the group work.

Citation

Stavert, J., Malmendier-Muehlschegel, A., & Schulze, U. (2025, June). Human rights and psychiatric practice in relation to involuntary treatment of young people in Europe. Presented at ESCAP 2025: 21st International Congress of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Strasbourg

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: ESCAP 2025: 21st International Congress of the European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Start Date: Jun 29, 2025
• End Date: Jul 1, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Feb 28, 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 16, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/4241732
• External URL: https://www.escap.eu/events/escap-2025-congress-in-strasbourg