The Effects of a Rights Advocacy Program for Mentally Ill Persons

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a program for rights advocacy on the level of human rights perception and self-esteem for those who are mentally ill. Methods: A quasi-experimental study using a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The data were collected from January 20 to March. 17, 2010. Forty one (23 in the experimental group and 19 in the control group) individuals participated in this study. The program was developed based on the education program for human rights developed by the Gyeonggi-do community mental health center in 2009. The program consisted of 8 sessions lasting 8 weeks. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic variables or the outcome variables between the two groups before the intervention. The level of human rights perception and self-esteem increased after the program in the experimental group but not significantly (t=1.87, p= .07; t=0.88, p= .384). Conclusion: Despite the fact that the program was not effective in increasing the level of human rights perception and self-esteem, the study was timely in that it suggests directions for those who develop rights advocacy programs for the mentally ill