Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Parliament to address mental health

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!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

PM Zhelyazkov heads the Bulgarian delegation at the funeral of Pope Francis

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov will lead the Bulgarian delegation to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome , Italy, the Cabinet’s press office announced. The delegation also includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications..

published on 4/26/25 8:05 AM

24 May declared Bulgarian Heritage Day in Las Vegas for the third year in a row

May 24 will be declared Bulgarian Heritage Day by the Mayor of Las Vegas, Shelley Berkley, Bulgaria's Consulate General in Los Angeles announced. The official meeting between the new mayor of the largest and most popular city in the state of Nevada..

published on 4/26/25 7:55 AM

More afternoon showers over the weekend

On Saturday lows will be between 5 and 10°C, around 7°C in Sofia. Before noon it will be mostly sunny and calm. In the afternoon there will be isolated showers and thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures will be between 20 and 25°C, around 21°C in the..

published on 4/25/25 7:05 PM