Are Child Ombudsmen Possible way for Preventive Psychiatry? - Abstract
Background and Objectives: Legislation regulates rights also of individuals with mental disorders. Observance of these regulations is monitored by Ombudsman, or the Public Defender of the Rights which was created in Slovakia with the adoption of the Constitutional Act No. 90/2001.
Methods: The Public Defender of Rights paid special attention toward the young generation and also to mentally handicapped children. And this is the ground for collaboration since 2002 with child ombudsmen. They can advocate in prevention of the Child Abuse and Neglect syndrome.
Results: The problematic children receive little attention not only in Slovakia but similar is in many other countries. This is where the child ombudsman could act. Since December 2008 children from Slovak schools selected from their ranks a “child ombudsman” who is willing to defend the rights of every child also with mental problems. The child ombudsmen become assistants of pedopsychiatry.
Conclusion: It has been developed an international cooperation of child ombudspersons for preventing of mental and physical damage. The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children which takes place in 22 European countries, was implemented in a greater scale in April 2010. The children ombudspersons should be arranged in the public healthcare system also for positive mental health in minors.