For very long time, mental health had been a low priority area in the health care delivery system. Of late renewed emphasis is given to deal with the patients with mental illness and protect, promote and fulfill the rights of the patients with mental illness. Mental health care Act 2017 has statutory sanction to fulfill that obligation on the part of the state.
There are many novel concepts in the MHCA , like the advance directives and Nominated representative who will take Mental health care decisions when patient is incapacitated by the mental illness . Right of the patient to community living is another new feature which enables the patients with mental illness to live in the family and community with full participation in the society.
Provisions of the halfway homes, shelter homes, and supported accommodation under the MHCA, are the part of the community rehabilitation when the patient with mental illness does not have family or family does not own the patient.
Decriminalization of suicide in the MHCA is yet another feature of the Act presumption of severe stress when one is pushed to the suicide requires psychological and psychiatric help which the appropriate government is obliged to provide.
I hope HP SMHA will pursue proactively the implementation of provisions of MHCA-2017 to benefit the persons suffering with mental illnesses in Himachal Pradesh.
Dr. Sanjay Pathak
Sr. Medical Superintendent HHMH&R cum CEO HP SMHA
