This book discusses the challenges arising in the application of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in the provision of mental health care by presenting the views of the parties most directly concerned – people with lived experience of mental illness, their carers, psychiatrists, legal experts, public health workers and planners. Rather than talking about theory, the representatives of these groups express their views in relation to a series of case stories related to mental health in different countries and cultures.

In addition to the presentation of views and arguments related to the case stories presented, there are descriptions of the application of the CRPD on mental health legislation in China, Egypt, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Mexico and Scotland - countries differing in their legal tradition, income and level of resources invested into mental health care.