Question

8. LokSabha recently passed the Mental health care bill unanimously. Consider the following statements with respect to the bill.

Identify the correct statements

• A. A. 1,2 and 4
• B. B. 2,3 and 4
  
• C. C. 1,3 and 4
  
• D. D. All the above

Answer 1

The correct option is D D. All the above

8. Answer: D

Topic: Government Schemes

Explanation:

• Important Provisions of the Mental Healthcare Bill, 2016
• Mental Healthcare Bill seeks to decriminalise the Attempt to Commit Suicide
• Seeks to fulfil India’s international obligation pursuant to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol India signed and ratified the Convention on 1st October 2007.
• Seeks to adopt a rights-based approach, which is a first in the mental health law of India Chapter V of the Bill operates as a charter of rights for persons with mental illness consolidating and safeguarding the basic human rights of these individuals.
• The Bill guarantees every person the right to access mental health care and treatment from mental health services run or funded by government.
• The Bill also recognises the right to community living; right to live with dignity; protection from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; treatment equal to persons with physical illness; right to relevant information concerning treatment other rights and recourses; right to confidentiality; right to access their basic medical records; right to personal contacts and communication; right to legal aid; recourse against deficiencies in provision of care, treatment and services.
• The Bill provides for the creation of Central and State Mental Health Authorities in order to ensure registration and supervision of mental health establishments; to develop quality and service norms for these establishments; to ensure registration of psychologists, mental health nurses, psychiatric social workers; to train law enforcement officials and mental health professionals about implementation of the Bill; and to advise government on mental health related issues.
• Registration of mental health establishments is made mandatory by providing for stringent penalty for violation.
• The Bill allows only restricted use of Electro-convulsive therapy.
• The Bill seeks to tackle stigma attached to mental illness By addressing mental illness from a holistic perspective and by empowering mentally ill persons, the Bill seeks to remove the stigma attached to mental illness. It is a serious effort to usher in equality for the mentally retard individuals.