The rights of people with lived experience of mental health problems during the pandemic: what we know and what we can learn for the future

The pandemic has dealt a severe blow to everyone, but especially to people with previous vulnerabilities, such as people with lived experience of mental health problems. Studies on the increased incidence of all types of mental disorders have been published incessantly since the beginning of the pandemic. However, not much has been said about the impact of the pandemic in terms of their rights, normally diminished by stigma and social discrimination. The full inclusion of people with lived experience of mental health problems as full citizens is a limitation in all societies, and it implies a burden in their recovery journeys. In these pandemic times we think the rights of persons with lived experience of mental health problems deserves special attention. In this presentation we will consider possible violations of rights that have occurred in the pandemic context but also samples of individual and collective resilience that have helped maintain well-being among this group of people.