President Ram Nath Kovind recently expressed concern over the declining mental health of the people in the country . He said that the country is on the verge of mental epidemic to a large extent. But the problem is that about 90 percent of them are not even getting treatment. Government and World Health Organization WHO figures also corroborate this statement. In 2017, the government had brought an act to treat mental patients and get their rights, but despite passing more than 2 years, 10 states of the country did not understand the need to implement this act. According to an estimate, about 14 percent of the population needs mental therapy, but the resources are scarce.
These are the condition
14 percent of the population needs mental therapy
90% do not even have the facility of treatment
3827 Registered Psychiatrists only
Need 13500 psychiatrists
Why are psychopaths growing?
Dr. Anil Bansal, former secretary of the Indian Medical Association, says that due to increasing stress, runaway and competition in everyday life, the number of psychiatrists in the country is increasing rapidly, especially in metros. Today, about 20 percent of the country’s population is struggling with the problem of depression, in which the number of youth is very high. Along with this, patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are also increasing. Alzheimer’s and dementia patients are also increasing with genetic causes and increasing age. Cases of suicides continue to emerge due to increasing stress among children and youth.
What does the act say?
In this act, where the suicide attempt is excluded from the category of crime, it also gives the mental patient the right to get treatment. It provides that any government or government-funded medical institution will have to treat any mental patient. He cannot refuse it. Along with this, provision has been made to provide necessary medicines and other facilities to the patient at concessional rates. They will also have to provide free legal service if needed. The patient shall have the right to obtain a record of his treatment. If there is any fault in his care, he will also have the right to complain. According to the Act, mental health authorities have to be formed at the central and state level to take care of the interests of mental patients. She will monitor every issue related to mental health in her area.
