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Mental Health Legislation
The Mental Health Care Bill, passed in the Rajya Sabha in August 2016, and up for discussion in the Lok Sabha, attempts to address complex issues and integrate divergent perspectives, resulting in uneasy compromise. It is still a work in progress.
The views expressed are personal.
On 8 August 2016, the Rajya Sabha passed the Mental Health Care Bill, which has been years in the making having been introduced in the Rajya Sabha first in 2013. The magnitude of the burden of mental illness coupled with the gaps in care had added to the urgency for having a progressive legislation. While the bill is a major advance over the Mental Health Act 1987, the need for enlightened legislation, which recognises the rights of individuals and responsibilities of a civilised society, demanded a nuanced understanding of the complex issues.
Mental Health Act, 1987
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