The Doors Are Open: Mental Health Law and Organization of Services in Turkey

Abstract

The efforts to legally regulate mental health services started many years ago in Turkey. The first and broadest to be implemented was Bimarhanelere Dair Nizamname (Regulatory Rules for Mental Health Institutions/Asylums) on March 6, 1 876. This regulation was the basis of other minor directories released for meeting the later needs. Although it was not specific for psychiatry, the Socialization Law of Turkish Ministry of Health (1961) was another cornerstone regarding the effects on all health policy. This law activated the establishment of governmental mental health services, day hospitals and occupational therapy, and rehabilitation units. Until the mid-1980s, because of the absence of a national mental health policy and law, mental health implementations were directed by some temporary directories of Ministry of Health prepared in the light of general international rules for human and patient rights. Due to the lack of any regulations governing involuntary hospitalizations and the unclear legal rights and responsibilities of the families and the physicians, this situation was difficult not only for the patients but also for the families and mental health professionals. After 1986, by the pioneering role of Dr. Bulent Coskun, who was the director of the Mental Health Department of Ministry of Health then, the most valuable approaches were applied to constitute a national mental health policy, which is effective and practical nationwide. In collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Turkish Ministry of Health, a meeting, which was widely attended by most of the mental health professionals, took place in Ankara in 1987. The main