Sehnaz Layikel

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
I’ve witnessed how a person can be deprived of opportunities in life after having been diagnosed with mental disability. When this is combined with other socioeconomic disadvantages such as poverty and discrimination, the person becomes obliged to sustain a very limited life with no hope for the future. Some people have to live for years inside institutions, with no personal initiative and without any social support. In addition, I have also witnessed and reported human rights abuses against people with mental difficulties, such as physical and psychological violence. However, I have also witnessed how people can become empowered and hopeful for their future when they are given opportunities and support.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched problems in the world?
I have been actively involved in different NGOs for many years. I have met many social activists, from whom I have learned great things. My experience with Mental Disability Rights International and International Treatment Alternatives for Recovery, especially Eric Rosenthal and Laurie Ahern, have been tremendously inspiring in planning my work in this field and becoming determined enough. Last but not least, my education at Istanbul Bilgi University Clinical Psychology MA Program and the support of my professors have been very encouraging. Some people in the field of mental health with all the wonderful things they did with their personal dedication and determination have been very inspiring. Most importantly, people with mental difficulties, their struggles, hope, patience, and uniqueness have been very challenging. I guess not being accustomed to injustice as it might be the case in environments of repeated human rights violations and keeping the potential for humane surprise has kept my energy alive.

New and Untested: What’s innovative about your new idea for social change? 
Human Rights in Mental Health Initiative is the first grassroots organization in Turkey that is established by people with mental difficulties themselves and their relatives that brings a human rights perspective into the issue of mental health. People with mental difficulties are involved in all decision-making processes. They are given a chance to decide, to speak, and to act for themselves. Also, it is one of our aims to have people with mental difficulties accepted as equal citizens of Turkey, with equal rights to education, health, employment, and civil life.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
Being able to leave space for participation to different people is an important quality. In the beginning, acting as an active catalyst and trying to create a culture of hope and courage, and then being able to step back to be able to include as many people as possible as active participants is important.

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?  
Sezen Aksu (a very famous composer and singer from Turkey), Bach, It’s a Beautiful Day, The Doors, Marlene Dietrich and many others.

What books do you recommend?
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg, Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell, Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, History of Madness by Michel Foucault, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks, The Divided Self by R. D. Laing, Ethics by Alan Badiou, and all books by Sigmund Freud, Jacques Derrida and Immanuel Levinas.