Dr. Nisha Sajnani was invited by Christopher Bailey, Chair of the Arts and Health working group of the World Health Organization, to bring a drama therapy delegation to a special session of the 12th UN Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Watch the full event here.
According to the World Health Organization, "More than one billion people in the world – about 15% of the global population – live with some form of disability, half of whom cannot afford health care. One in four people are affected by a mental disorder at some point in their lives, and depression, in particular, will be the leading cause of disability worldwide by 2030. Research shows that mental health and physical disabilities are inextricably linked. Addressing mental as well as physical health in a holistic context is not only a global public health issue, but a human rights issue and development priority, critical to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals."
The drama therapy delegation participated in an open plenary entitled "Reaching Higher Standards of Health and Well-Being through Cultural Engagement, Empowerment and Inclusion" hosted by the World Health Organization and co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Norway, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone, International Association of Applied Psychology, United African Congress, and the Psychology Coalition of NGOs.