Indicator 1(B): What housing options are available for people with mental disabilities?

Conclusion:
Institutions continue to be the dominant housing option available to people with mental disabilities, due a lack of community services (see also Indicators 2(A)-(E) below). The lack of options means that some people with mental disabilities are placed in unregistered and unregulated institutions, placing them at an increased risk of harm.

Explanation:

According to data from the Czech Statistical Office, approximately one fifth of Czech persons with mental disabilities are institutionalised in social care institutions.^[17] These institutions include ‘homes for persons with disabilities’, which range from small congregate homes to large scale institutions, ‘homes with special regime’ (see Glossary) and homes for elderly people. The Social Services Act also recognises ‘week centres’ and ‘sheltered housing’ as other forms of residential services. Smaller housing facilities are often built in the grounds of larger residential institutions.^[18]

Children with mental disabilities can also be institutionalised in homes for persons with disabilities, centres for immediate help or in children’s homes under the authority of the Ministry of Education.^[19] In addition, children can be also institutionalised in ‘centres for immediate help’ (see Glossary).

Some adults with mental disabilities also live in unofficial private facilities without registration by the authorities. These facilities are operated by private entities and function like hostels and dormitories. Recently, the Public Defender of Rights visited seven unregistered institutions and found that unqualified personnel were providing substandard treatment and care in restrictive and unregulated environments. Ill-treatment was found to be rife and the Public Defender of Rights called on public guardians to stop placing persons with disabilities in such institutions.^[20]

A lack of community mental health services mean that people with mental health issues are highly likely to be institutionalised to receive treatment. There are three psychiatric hospitals for children.^[21] In 2009, the Public Defender of Rights pointed out that many patients in psychiatric institutions had no other realistic options than to remain in psychiatric facilities due to a lack of sufficient ‘follow-up social services’.^[22] Except for ‘homes with special regimes’, people with a history of mental health issues can also been denied access to social care institutions.^[23]