[Curr Affa/Health] New Mental Health Policy

Current Affairs

National Mental Health Policy 2014 

National Mental Health Policy, 2014
Launched on	Oct , 2014
Launched by	Union Health Ministry

Why need a new policy?

·        During British-raj: Acts for Lunacy and Asylum. But they only dealt with “custody” while ignoring human rights of such patients.

·        Late 80s: Government enacted Mental Health Act, but many deficiencies, hence not implemented.

·        Hardly 3500 psychiatrists in country.

·        Indian society still stigmatises patients with even curable psychiatric diseases. Therefore, relatives delay or deny the treatment.

·        WHO predicts: by 2020, 20% of India’s population would suffer from some form of mental illness.

Salient features of National Mental Health Policy 2014

Affordable Access

·        There is bi-directional relationship of mental illness and poverty.

·        Therefore, policy will have pro-Poor focus besides creamy layer families can afford mental healthcare.

·        Caregivers of mentally-ill patients, will be given financial support.

Manpower

·        At district hospitals, new cadre of Government employees called “mental healthcare providers”.

·        Auxiliary midwives will be given training for mental healthcare.

·        New masters and diploma courses, to increase paramedics in mental healthcare.

 Buildings

·        Government will give fund to modernize existing hospitals, open mental healthcare wards in them.

·        Each state will have a “center of excellence” on the lines of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore

·        Will setup Small mental health centres within communities

·        Will reform mental hospitals to ensure dignity and human rights of women, children and old people.

Execution

·        Mental healthcare bill in 6 months.

·        Mental Health Action Plan 365 with specific roles for the Centre, States, local bodies and civil society.

·        Programs to combat drug abuse and alcoholism.

·        Universal Health Assurance Mission (UHAM) will include mental illnesses.

De-stigmatization

·        Attempted suicides will be decriminalized.

·        October 10 to be observed as National Mental Health Day.

·        Awareness campaigns

·        To remove stigma associated with mental illness.

·        To highlight the symptoms and remedies of depression, schizophrenia, bipolar syndrome.

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