hpsmha@gmail.com
HP State Mental Health Authority
Boileauganj Shimla-171005
Himachal Pradesh State Mental Health Authority
( as per Mental Health Care Act – 2017 )
Published date: April 20, 2021
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
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We have seen at one time or the other, people wandering on the roads
loitering aimlessly, living in open, disheveled and unkempt, preening in to
the municipal bins and they find out something to eat. People often call
them crazy, mad or lunatics. But they are suffering from mental illnesses
which are treatable. Many times in the families, persons with mental
illnesses are chained and locked up in the dingy rooms, intimidated and
beaten by their own family men. In villages, the shamans beat them with
chains in vain attempt to drive the malevolent forces out which they think,
caused the maladaptive behavior.
Earlier laws were enacted to deal with the persons with mental illnesses
and they were confined to the mental asylums. But with the availability of
the better treatment facilities and options, patients can now be treated and
they can go back to the family and society.
Mental Health care Act 2017 is the latest and novel effort to restore human
dignity to persons living with mental illnesses. All such persons have the
right to treatment, care and to live in the community.
It will be the endeavor of HP State Mental Health Authority to implement
the Act in letter and spirit.
M.Sudha Devi IAS 2003
Secretary Health & family Welfare cum Chairperson HPSMHA
Government of Himachal Pradesh
Mental health and well being is prime concern of the modern day society
and COVID pandemic has underlined the necessity to build credible mental
health care services in the state.
A report of the World Health Organization revealed that 7.5 percent of the
Indian population suffers from some form of mental disorder. Anxiety,
depression and increasing suicide is cause of concern and indicates Mental
Health issues afflicting the society. Most of the times mentally ill population
is largely neglected in the society and given subhuman treatment.
Himachal Pradesh Government is committed to implement the Mental
Health Care Act, 2017, which intends to provide treatment and
rehabilitation of the persons suffering from mental illness.
Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil
Hon’ble Health Minister H.P.