Violations in Gyumri Mental Health Center

The National Preventive Mechanism unit of the Human Rights Defender's office, along with experts, has compiled a detailed analytical report on the issues identified during a monitoring visit to the Gyumri Mental Health Center, a closed joint-stock company in Shirak province of Armenia.

The main issues raised in the report include:

• Inadequate living conditions marked by overcrowding, a need for renovation and improvement works, lack of storage cabinets, problems with bathing facilities, and absence of hygiene supplies.
• Absence of facilities for individuals with mobility issues.
• The quantitative and qualitative standards of food provided are insufficient.
• The right to daily outdoor walks for individuals with mental health issues is not properly ensured.
• No opportunities for targeted activities and alternative therapies for individuals with mental health issues.
• A need to develop mechanisms to encourage communication between individuals with mental health issues and the outside world.
• There are issues with voluntary and involuntary treatment procedures.
• Regulations regarding the use of restraint measures are not adhered to (for example, the use of physical restraints in patient rooms and in the presence of other patients, improper mechanical means of physical restraint, etc.).
• No unified approach and criteria for conducting examinations of individuals with mental health issues.
• Need for clear mechanisms to organize specialized consultations.
• There is a necessity to develop proper accounting of injuries in psychiatric institutions and to inform the law enforcement agencies about this, in order to eliminate unreasonable differentiation in the types and tariffs of paid services in psychiatric organizations.

During the visit, it was noted that renovation work was being carried out at the Center, which is welcomed. However, keeping individuals with mental health issues in overcrowded conditions for a prolonged period is unacceptable.

The Human Rights Defender will present this report, along with recommendations to address the identified issues, to the Ministries of Health and Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, expressing readiness to discuss the raised concerns together and support in their resolution.

Simultaneously, the Defender emphasized the importance of improving the working conditions of the Center's staff from the perspective of the entire human rights protection system.