Given its success, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) needed to expand its scope of monitoring the Mental Health Care Institutions in the country. This was one of the key suggestions which emerged, among others, during its day-long National Conference on Mental Health and Human Rights which concluded in New Delhi, today.
Some of the other important suggestions and recommendations which emerged during the discussions included, the need for addressing the issue of shortage of para-medical staff and Psychiatrists; the need for setting up and strengthening Psychiatry Department in all Medical Colleges; the efforts for utilizing allocated funds by the Mental Health Care Institutions; make efforts to organize media campaigns for awareness on mental health issues; work towards financial independence of Mental Health Care Institutions; and provide support to NGOs for their increased role in the Mental Health Care.
It was strongly felt that due to monitoring by the NHRC, there has been some discernible improvements especially in the Mental Health Care Institutions, but a lot needs to be done to improve the overall scenario in the area of mental health care within the health sector, including special budgetary support and increased number of faculties in mental health care education. The suggestions will be sent to the Government for implementation.
Earlier, inaugurating the Conference, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC said that the Commission is deeply concerned with the rights of mentally ill persons. He said that there were not good mental health hospitals in all States in the country. These have only regional presence which is inadequate keeping in view the number of persons getting affected with one of the other psychiatric or mental disorder.
Recalling the progress made in terms of the legislation for the Care and Protection of Mentally Ill Persons, since the British time, Justice Balakrishnan hoped that the 2013 Bill on Mental Health Care pending in the Parliament may address several concerns. He also referred to the financial crisis being faced by the Mental Health Institutions and related challenges which were needed to be addressed on priority basis to strengthen them.
Love Verma, Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary said that the timing of the Conference was very contextual and appropriate in the light of the fact that a Bill seeking amendments on the Mental Health Legislation is before Parliament which hopefully will turn into a Law in a year's time. However, he said, the issues relating to Mental Health Care were not only the preserves of Government but all the stakeholders are equal partners. Verma also said that 88 Psychiatry Wings in Government Hospitals were being upgraded.
J.S. Kochher, Joint Secretary, NHRC said that the Commission is concerned with the prevailing situation in the Mental Health Care Institutions which including among other things providing clean environment, sanitation and drinking water facilities to the inmates. He said that wandering mentally ill persons on the streets and their care and rehabilitation is another area of serious concern and the police personnel need to be sensitized with regard to their role in dealing with such persons as per the existing provisions of the Mental Health Act .
NHRC Members, Justice Cyriac Joseph and S.C. Sinha, NHRC's Special Rapporteurs, senior officers, representatives of Centre and State Governments, Health of Mental Health Care Institutions, including, Director, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, civil society representatives participated in the deliberations.