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

Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov and US Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright (right)

Bulgaria and the United States confirm their civil nuclear cooperation

Bulgaria's Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov and US Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright signed a joint statement confirming the concluded intergovernmental agreement to strengthen civil nuclear cooperation . The document was signed within the framework..

published on 9/17/25 9:37 AM

Day of Sofia celebrated with a number of events

September 17 is the holiday of the city of Sofia and a day on which we honor the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. The city got its name from the Basilica of St. Sophia located in the center of the capital city, which is among the..

published on 9/17/25 7:55 AM

Bulgarian Parliament will debate fifth vote of no confidence in Rosen Zhelyazkov's cabinet

The Bulgarian National Assembly will hold debates today on the fifth vote of no confidence against the government of Rosen Zhelyazkov. The vote itself is expected to take place on Thursday.  PP-DB tables another no-confidence vote against Rosen..

published on 9/17/25 6:05 AM