You have a right to complain and be heard. This right says that you can tell other people if you are not getting your rights, or if you are being treated unfairly or with discrimination. This right asks other people to listen when you are telling them that you are not getting your rights, and try to help you out.
Your Right To Complain When You Think Someone is Taking Away Your Rights
It is your right to complain, or tell someone else, when you think someone is taking away your rights. This right can support your recovery because:
- knowing that you can tell someone can help you figure out what to do in a tough situation;
- telling someone else about what is going on may help you get your rights back;
- if you can tell someone else, that person may support you, stick up for you and help you figure out what to do; and
- telling someone else can help you take control of the situation.
Use your rights. Complain, or tell someone else, when you think someone is taking away your rights. Complain, or tell someone else, if someone tries to stop you from using your rights. Know that you can complain to a client rights advocate, client representative, or client rights officer. These people must help you. You can also complain to groups like Disability Rights Ohio that advocate for and help people who get or want mental health services.
Find out the way to complain, like who to tell, and if you have to write your complaint on paper. This special way to complain is called a "grievance procedure." If you don't know how to complain, ask someone who knows (like a case manager, a client rights advocate, client representative, client rights officer. These people must help you.) You can also ask a lawyer to help you. If you don't know who is the best person to complain to, ask someone who knows.
Other people should help you use your rights. A clients right advocate, client representative, or client rights officer should help you with complaining, if you need help to do it. Other people should not keep you from complaining. Other people should not make you feel bad about, or punish you, for complaining.
Your Right To Complain When You Think Someone is Doing or Saying Something Wrong or Hurtful to You
It is your right to complain, or tell someone else, when you think someone is doing or saying something wrong or hurtful to you. This right can support your recovery because:
- telling someone else about what is going on may help other people from doing or saying wrong or hurtful things to you;
- if you can tell someone else, that person may help you figure out what to do;
- if you tell someone else, that person may stick up for you and help stop what is going on that is hurting you;
- telling someone else can help you figure out what to do in a tough situation, and help you take control of the situation; and
- by telling someone else, you are taking responsibility for what is going on in your life.
Use your rights. Complain, or tell someone else, when you think someone is doing something or saying something that is wrong or hurtful to you. Know that you can complain to people like a case manager, a client rights advocate, client representative, client rights officer or a lawyer. You can also complain to groups like Ohio Legal Rights Service that advocate for and help people who get or want mental health services.
Find out the way to complain, like who to tell, and if you have to write your complaint on paper. This special way to complain is called a "grievance procedure." If you don't know how to complain, ask someone who knows (like a case manager, a client rights advocate, client representative, client rights officer or a lawyer). If you don't know who is the best person to complain to, ask someone who knows.
Other people should help you use your rights. Other people:
- should not keep you from complaining;
- should help you with complaining, if you need help to do it; and
- should not make you feel bad about, or punish you, for complaining.
It Is Your Right To Know That You Can Complain and If There is a Special Way to Do It
It is your right to know that you can complain, and to know if there is a special way to do it, where you live, work, go to school, or get services. The special way to complain is sometimes called a "grievance procedure." This right can support your recovery because:
- knowing that you can complain where you live, work or get services can help you speak up for yourself and stick up for your own rights;
- knowing how to complain can help you decide what to do when something goes wrong; and
- knowing how to complain may help you feel like you have more control over your life and your rights.
Use your rights. Find out if there is a special way to complain when something goes wrong where you live, work, go to school or get services. Ask someone about your right to complain, and ask if there is a special way to complain. Sometimes this special way to complain is called a "grievance procedure." If you do not understand your right to complain or how to complain, ask someone to explain it to you in a way that makes sense to you.
Other people should help you use your rights. Other people should explain to you that you have a right to complain. You should get the explanation in writing too. In some places, a person called a client rights advocate, client representative, or client rights officer is supposed to tell you about your right to complain and how to do it. Other people should:
- explain to you, in a way that you understand, how to complain;
- not threaten you or take away services from you;
- not make you feel bad if you ask about how to complain; and
- not punish you if you ask about how to complain.
Your Right To Have Other People Listen to You with Respect if You Complain
It is your right to have other people listen to you with respect if you complain that someone is taking away your rights, or saying or doing something which is wrong or hurts you. This right can support your recovery because:
- the problem may get fixed faster if other people are listening to you with respect; and
- you may feel more in control of the problem if you know people are listening to you with respect.
Use your rights. Try to stay calm when you complain. Ask for respect if you are not getting it.
Other people should help you use your rights. Other people should:
- listen to you with respect if you complain;
- listen to your side of the story; and
- stick up for you if someone is not listening to you with respect.
Some people, like a client rights advocate, client representative, or client rights officer must listen to your complaint and help you so that your complaint is answered.
Your Right To Get an Answer to Your Complaint
It is your right to get an answer to your complaint. This right can support your recovery because:
- an answer may fix the problem;
- an answer may help you feel less worried or anxious about the problem;
- an answer can help you decide if you should do anything else to fix the problem; and
- getting an answer respects you.
Use your rights. Ask for an answer to your complaint. Keep asking until you get an answer.
Other people should help you use your rights. Other people should give you an answer to your complaint. If a person that you complain to can't give you an answer, that person should let you know who else can give you an answer. If a person can't give you an answer to your complaint right away, that person should let you know when you will get your answer.
Your Right To Get an Answer to Your Complaint in Time That's Fair
It is your right to get an answer to your complaint in time that's fair. This right can support your recovery because the problem may get fixed faster if you don't have to wait a long time for an answer.
Use your rights. When you complain about something, ask when you will get an answer to your complaint. If you think it is taking too long to get an answer to your complaint ask why it is taking so long; try talking to someone else about it (like another advocate). Ask to see the rules about complaining.
Other people should help you use your rights. Other people should follow the rules about answering your complaint. Other people must let you see the rules about complaining.