The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, was passed four years ago but is not yet implemented in Maharashtra. The Centre had introduced the Mental Healthcare Act that provides free mental healthcare and services.
Unlike Maharashtra, states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Sikkim, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have already implemented the Act. They have also formulated their own rules. Not only that, but these states have also adhered to the provisions like the formation of mental health review boards.
The mental health professionals are now in a worried state since stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, emotional distress are some mental illnesses that have increased amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These illnesses are visibly seen in adults, the elderly and even children.
A consultant psychiatrist and director of the Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society (ILS), Pune, Dr Soumitra Pathare, said that people should come together and push the authorities to implement the Act.
She had also provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in drafting the Act.
Maharashtra has four major regional hospitals situated in Thane, Pune, Nagpur and Ratnagiri. However, the implementation of the Act is not done due to a lack of bureaucratic willingness and concern for mental health issues, she added.
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