Health Ministry asks states to constitute mental health authority, review-boards
The Union Health Ministry has asked all the states to set up a State Mental Health Authority and District Mental Health Review Board in order to ensure effective implementation of the Mental Health Care Act, 2017. The Act got the assent of the President on April 7 last year. A letter was written to the Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries (Health) in this regard.
About the State Mental Health Authority and review boards
The State Mental Health Authority which will comprise officials of the state government and other members working in the mental health sector is supposed to oversee the effective implementation of the provisions of the Act, an official statement said. Meanwhile, the District Mental Health Review Boards will address public grievances related to violation of the provisions of the Act.
State governments required to take certain actions
"As per the provisions of the Act, the state governments are required to take certain actions like establishment of State Mental Health Authorities, creation of State Mental Health Authorities Funds and setting up of Mental Health Review Boards," said the letter.
Necessary steps to integrate mental health services into general healthcare
"The state government shall also take necessary steps to integrate mental health services into general healthcare services at all levels of healthcare, including primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, and in all health programmes run by the government," the letter said. "These actions are essential to be completed in a time-bound manner and given adequate publicity...to ensure timely implementation of the provisions," it said.
About the Mental Health Care Act, 2017
According to Mental Health Care Act-2017, every person with mental illness shall be treated as equal to persons with physical illness in the provision of all healthcare. Attempts to commit suicide by a mentally ill person will not be punishable. The Act also prohibits electro-convulsive therapy, referred to as "shock therapy", without the use of muscle relaxants and anesthesia on mentally ill persons.
Health Ministry and other organizations conducting online courses
Also, mentally ill patients cannot be chained in any manner as per the Act. The Health Ministry in collaboration with NIMHANS Bengaluru, Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi and Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur is conducting online courses for medical officers, psychologists, social workers, and nurses to make them equipped with skills to handle persons with mental illnesses.
Gap between requirement, availability of professionals handling mentally ill patients
This initiative of the Ministry is aimed at addressing the gap between requirement and availability of professionals to handle persons with mental illnesses. The Health Ministry has also taken cognizance of acute shortage of qualified manpower in the field like psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, clinical psychologists, and mental health nurses. Against the requirement of 13,500 psychiatrists, there are around 4,000 psychiatrists as of Jan'15.
