World Mental Health Day 1998 was observed in six continents and called attention to the fact that people with mental illness cannot be discriminated against in Sabah. A proclamation to adapt the principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and for the improvement of mental health care was organised by the Sabah Mental Health Association to observe World Mental Health Day.

The right honorable Chief Minister of Sabah, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Bernard G. Dompok signed the proclamation for the observance of Mental Health Day, which had as its theme "Human Right and Mental Health" on the 10^th october 1998 at the Sutera Pan Pacific Hotel, Kota Kinabalu.

Basically, Human Right and Mental Health are often closely linked in the following ways:

• Violation of human right can be a source of stress or trauma threatening to mental health.
• Violation of a person’s human right can be barrier to recovery.
• Under International Human Right Law, people with mental illness have the same human rights as all other citizens.
• People with mental illness or people labeled as "Mentally Ill" are often unfairly singled out and are denied equal treatment of the equal opportunity to live their life like all other citizens. Discrimination of this kind is a violation of International Human Rights Law.
• Around the world, people with mental illness are at risk of being mistreated or having their basic human rights denied. They may be denied the opportunity to make basic life decisions that other people take for granted, including the right to decide where the live, where they work or what kind of psychiatric treatment they receive.

The following includes rights listed in the "Resolution and Decisions" adopted by general assembly of the United Nations:

• All persons have the right to the best available mental health care, which shall be part of the health and social care system.
• All persons with a mental illness, or who are being treated as such persons, have the right to protection from economic, sexual and other forms of exploitation, physical or other abuse and degrading treatments.
• Every person with a mental illness shall have the right to live and work, as far as possible, in the community.
• A determination of mental illness shall never be made on the basis of political, economic or social status or membership of a cultural, racial or religious group, or any other reason directly relevant to mental health status.
• Every patient shall have the right to be treated and cared for, as far as possible in the community in which he or she lives.
• Every person shall be protected from harm. Including unjustified medication, abuse by other parents, staff or others, or other acts causing mental distress or physical discomfort.

The eight Annual World Mental Day will be held on 10 October 1999. The theme will be "Ageing and Mental Health" in observance of the United Nation’s International Year of older persons toward a society for all ages.

As was in 1998, the Sabah Mental Health Association is recognised in the list of endorsers. We invite local organisation which may wish to collaborate and assist us in our planning.