Text size

Parliament to address mental health

published on 11/23/23 2:53 PM

Photo: Facebook/Mental Health

With 137 votes in favour, the National Assembly has set up a temporary committee to protect the rights of the mentally ill.

The committee will examine violations found in the country by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment at the end of March this year, as well as those reported by the Bulgarian Ombudsman.

Legislative amendments are being prepared. The sponsors of We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria aim to abolish compulsory detention and deinstitutionalise mental health institutions. "Obviously, the authors have no idea what compulsory detention under the Mental Health Act is - on what occasions, when, how and in what way it is imposed," said Branimir Balachev of GERB.

The European Committee report said that patients complained that orderlies shouted at them and hit them, that rooms were often overcrowded and conditions in wards were distinctly prison-like, and that staffing was grossly inadequate.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria News ammendments European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment investigation mentally ill parliament temporary committee

More from category

Rakla Fest in Pernik offers open-air art

From September 19 to 21, the Central Park in Pernik will host the first edition of Rakla Fest – a festival that will bring together young and old in the name of laughter, art and music. This festival of theatrical, circus, musical and street art..

published on 9/19/25 6:00 AM

Morning sunshine, highs of 23 to 28 Celsius expected on Friday

On Friday, the minimum temperatures in Bulgaria will be from 6 to 14°C, in Sofia - 7°C. During the day it will be sunny. A light to moderate wind will blow from the north-northwest. Daytime highs will be from 23 to 28°C, in the capital Sofia -..

published on 9/18/25 7:25 PM

Rosen Zhelyazkov's cabinet survives fifth no-confidence vote

The government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov survived a fifth vote of no confidence, this time on the topic of "Internal Security and Justice." 133 MPs from GERB-SDS, DPS–New Beginning, BSP and There is Such a People (ITN) voted against. 101 Mps..

published on 9/18/25 6:37 PM