The literature review identifies and examines human rights violations experienced by individuals with mental illness on a global level. In addition, the intent is to explore how current legislation either reinforces or supports these violations. The authors conducted an extensive review of the existing literature on mental health and human rights violations. Keywords were used to exhaust databases on this subject matter and to collect data, interpretations, and government publications on mental health and human rights. Individuals with mental illness are experiencing human rights violations on a global scale both within and outside of psychiatric institutions. These violations include denial of employment, marriage, procreation, and education; malnutrition; physical abuse; and negligence. This information was reviewed and compiled into the following article, along with interpretations of current implications and suggestions for future research. It is evident that more supports need to be instilled, especially within the context of low- and middle-income countries lacking adequate staffing and accessible services. Furthermore, legislation needs to be modified, updated, or created with relevant systems in place to make these laws enforceable.

The prevalence of Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) in the Western world has generated considerable discussion regarding best practices in the outpatient treatment of the seriously mentally ill. Although problems encountered by ethnic minority communities in the various health care systems have been studied to some degree, there is an acute dearth of information on the effects of CTOs on minority individuals. This paper presents findings from research on the lived experiences of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds who have been the subjects of CTOs in Toronto, Canada, and their perceptions of its impact on their lives. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals who have experienced CTOs. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants (n =24) from ethnic minority background in Toronto, Canada. Participants perceived both positive and negative impacts of CTOs. The positives included affirmation of experiences with the mental health system; improved rapport with the case management and clinical team, increased medication compliance and feelings of empowerment. The negative feedback included feelings of being coerced and the stigma associated with it. The findings of this study suggest that although CTOs are not a panacea for every mental health problem, they can be effective with a specific group who choose to follow through with the expectations of the treatment. The author, however argues that for these individuals to be on a CTO before getting better treatment, brings to the fore a number of issues with the mental health system. This is particularly concerning as it pertains to individuals of ethnic minority background.

This literature review surveys the state of current scholarship on physical disability in Ghana. The intention is to identify major themes and opinions relating to the challenges faced by Ghanaians with physical disabilities. After an extensive literature review, the authors selected 21 articles for inclusion based on the criteria that they had to focus on physical disability in a Ghanaian setting. Reviewing the articles revealed that most scholars have focused on the pervasive oppression of Ghanaians with physical disabilities. Six major topic areas emerged, including the experience of the disability rights movement from the 1990s to the present, the public perception of people with physical disabilities, the issue of families and abuse, the rights to education, challenges around employment and finances, and health care for disabled Ghanaians. This literature review presents these topics, discusses their implications, and makes suggestions for further research and action to improve human rights for Ghanaians with physical disabilities.

This paper provides insights from experiences in data gathering and recruitment from two research projects on disability/mental health in Ghana. The focus of the study explores stigma amongst individuals diagnosed with mental illness and their caregivers. The study investigates the positioning of the researcher in a superior light by participants which often wrests power from those who should be considered the true experts of their own circumstances. Inequality in the interview process thus carried the risk of impacting the quality of the data, as some participants did not consider themselves as ‘experts’ of their condition. The paper explores strategies for addressing these challenges of hierarchy and inequality in the research process in the Global South. Based on the study, we report on our experiences as follows: (1) ensuring that participants are empowered to engage with researchers; and (2) training local researchers to engage in culturally sensitive research processes.

INTRODUCTION: Research on dementia caregiving in Africa often prioritizes biomedical and formal health‐care services, overlooking broader family and community‐based support networks. Addressing this gap, this study explores when and which support services Yoruba families use and how these services shape their caregiving experiences within the dementia care context. METHODS: Guided by interpretive phenomenology and Afrocentric principles, we conducted 15 semi‐structured family interviews with 52 participants (2–5 per family), alongside persons with dementia. Interviews were audio‐recorded, translated, and thematically analyzed. RESULTS: Help seeking often began when behavioral symptoms became overwhelming. Urban families ( n = 11) leaned on hospital services, while rural families ( n = 4) turned to faith‐based and traditional healers. Support was appreciated for offering reassurance, though hospital services often lacked cultural sensitivity, and traditional options—while fostering hope—could reinforce stigma. DISCUSSION: Enhancing dementia awareness and collaboration between medical, spiritual, and traditional systems may improve caregiver experiences and encourage earlier, culturally appropriate interventions. Highlights: Yoruba families caring for loved ones with dementia do not adhere to rigid care pathways. Instead, they move fluidly between hospitals, religious spaces, and traditional healing practices—not just in search of treatment but to find meaning, reassurance, and continuity with ancestral ways of knowing. Memory loss is not always seen as a medical condition; it is often interpreted through spiritual, cultural, and communal lenses. Families may turn to faith leaders or elders first, delaying formal care until behaviors become disruptive or socially visible. Our interpretive phenomenological analysis, grounded in an Afrocentric lens, reveals caregiving as both an expression of love and a weighty responsibility. The ever‐present fear of judgment—from within and outside the family—can lead to silence, isolation, and hesitation in seeking biomedical support. A more compassionate and culturally anchored dementia care model requires health‐care professionals, traditional healers, and faith leaders to work together. Through dialogue and mutual respect, they can create care networks that honor Yoruba worldviews, allowing families to navigate dementia in ways that feel both medically sound and spiritually resonant.