She spoke about the myths surrounding decriminalising attempts to suicide and said that police involvement and investigation into such cases only worsened the distress families were suffering from. About three or four million people attempt suicide in India every year,” she said. Member of Rajya Sabha Kanimozhi spoke of lack of mental health professionals and the need for the government to do much more. “The government should reach out and support such people,” she said and added that mental health professionals were necessary not just in schools and colleges but maybe even in industries, with stress becoming a huge issue. The former Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju said the new Act privileged a person with mental illness over the family, caregivers, treating psychiatrists, and judges.

Source: The Hindu April 15, 2017 18:02 UTC