The impending passage of the Mental Healthcare Bill, 2016, is an opportunity to rectify India’s failure to respond proportionately to the widespread prevalence of mental disorders. The legislation mandates the government to integrate mental healthcare services into general healthcare services at all levels; even at primary health centres. Into this unenviable situation comes the Mental Healthcare Bill, 2016, which is a progressive piece of legislation and a tremendous improvement over the present law, the outdated Mental Health Act, 1987. Activities geared towards conducting a National Mental Health Survey was begun as late as 2013 and is not complete yet. More crucially, almost all mental healthcare institutions are based in urban areas.

Source: dna August 12, 2016 02:47 UTC