Nothing About Us Without Us is a human-rights–centered initiative focused on creating awareness on mental health and promoting the inclusion of people living with mental health disabilities in decisions that affect their lives. The project draws inspiration from principles taught in the WHO mental health awareness programme, particularly the understanding that all persons are equal before the law and that no law, policy, or institutional practice should discriminate against individuals on the basis of mental health status.
The project aims to bridge the gap between legal equality and practical inclusion. Many people living with mental health disabilities still remain excluded from community dialogues, programme design, and decision-making spaces. This initiative seeks to change that by:
1. Public Education -sharing accessible, factual information on rights, non-discrimination, and respectful language, through small community forums and targeted online content.
2. Lived-Experience Inclusion - inviting individuals with mental health conditions to participate, speak, or co-design aspects of the awareness conversations.
3. Advocacy for Dignity - encouraging local leaders, youth groups, and organisations to adopt inclusive approaches grounded in equality, autonomy, and respect.
The project is intentionally modest in scale: by the end of the Fellowship cycle, it aims to engage 80–120 community members, collaborate with at least one local organisation, and document simple recommendations for improving inclusion in community and informal decision-making spaces. The overall goal is to foster environments where people with mental health disabilities are not spoken for, but are present, heard, and valued.