This study explored unmet mental health and social care needs in the Slovak Republic and their adverse human rights consequences. We estimated treatment gap for persons aged 15-64 years in year 2015 affected by depressive, anxiety, substance use and schizophrenic disorders by comparing local treated prevalence rates with population estimated rates for Europe. Two-thirds of people with depressive disorders and over 80% of those with anxiety disorders and alcohol dependence were not receiving treatment. There was no treatment gap for persons with schizophrenia. Fifty-one percent of those eligible for disability pension on the grounds of mental disorders failed to receive it. We discuss the implications of the estimated gaps in mental health and social care and consequent human rights violations that may result from the current system of mental health care in Slovakia.

Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy Indian Law Society Pune India

Department of Community Mental Health Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences University of Haifa Haifa Israel

Institute of Epidemiology Faculty of Medicine Comenius University Bratislava Slovak Republic

Olomouc University Society and Health Institute Palacky University Olomouc Olomouc Czech Republic

St Elisabeth University of Health and Social Sciences Bratislava Slovak Republic

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