Abstract

In Chile, the development of the community model in mental health has had varying degrees of deficiency in its implementation within the framework of the State. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) represents an essential instrument for strengthening the community-based approach from a human rights perspective. This article describes a synthesis of the first National Meeting for the Human Rights of People with mental disabilities carried out in 2015. Based on the interpretation of the contents addressed in this event, there are three structural limitations to the development of a perspective of rights in the mental health field: the predominance of the biomedical approach, the validity of the asylum paradigm and the reproduction of a welfare model. In this regard, the essential contribution of the participation of the community of users and ex-users of mental health services is recognized in order to overcome these limitations, as well as the importance of empowering this social group, acquiring a leading role in the construction of a more just and supportive society, respectful of differences and aware of diversity.