What’s in the news?

• Citing the prevalence of mental health issues and the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 crisis, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has said it will launch a toll-free helpline- Kiran-  to enable access to mental health resources.

How does the helpline work?

• The “Kiran” mental health rehabilitation helpline number, 1800-599-0019, will provide callers support for early screening, first-aid, psychological support, distress management, mental well-being, preventing deviant behaviours, psychological crisis management etc.
• The helpline will offer services in 13 languages.
• It targets to resolve issues of people across the country experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, panic attack, adjustment disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, pandemic-induced psychological issues and mental health emergencies.

Additional Details

• • Article 47 – casts a duty on the State to raise the nutrition levels and standard of living of people and to improve public health.
  • Supreme Court judgement– Bandhua Mukti Morcha v Union of India & Ors interpreted the Right to health under Article 21 which guarantees the right to life.
  • An estimated 150 million people across India are in need of mental health care interventions, according to India’s latest National Mental Health Survey 2015-16.
  • Low proportion of the mental health workforce in India (per 100,000 population) include psychiatrists (0.3), nurses (0.12), psychologists (0.07) and social workers (0.07).
  • According to WHO, the burden of mental disorders is maximal in young adults. As most of the population is young (India has more than 50% of its population below the age of 25), it requires a special focus.
  • According to estimates nearly 92% of the people who need mental health care and treatment do not have access to any form of mental health care.
• SDG 3: Good Health and wellbeing
• UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities– the Convention identifies mental illness as a disability and seeks commitment from ratifying countries to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and promote and respect their inherent dignity. 
• India’s Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 has been formulated on the lines of the convention.

Mental health care Act 2017- Main Features

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 defines “mental illness” as a substantial disorder of thinking, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs judgement, behaviour, capacity to recognise reality or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life, mental conditions associated with the abuse of alcohol and drugs.

• • However, it does not include mental retardation which is a condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind of a person, specially characterised by sub-normality of intelligence.
  • Patients can state on how to be treated or not to be treated for the illness during a mental health situation.
  • Right to appoint a Nominated Representative- A person shall have the right to appoint a nominated representative to take on his/her behalf, all health related decisions
  • Right to – access mental health care, free & quality services, free medicines, community living, protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, to live in an environment, safe and hygienic, having basic amenities and legal aid.
• No Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) without anaesthesia.
• Attempt to commit suicide not an offence– Now, a person who attempts to commit suicide will be presumed to be “suffering from severe stress’’ and shall not be subjected to any investigation or prosecution.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/social-justice-ministry-to-launch-mental-health-rehabilitation-helpline/article32443797.ece