Implementation of Mental Health Care Act, 2017: Issues and Way Forward
| Author | Pawan Kumar Taneja,Ishita Kukreti,Ashutosh Vashist |
| DOI | 10.1177/00195561221080674 |
| Published date | 01 June 2022 |
| Date | 01 June 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Implementation of
Mental Health Care
Act, 2017: Issues
and Way Forward
Ashutosh Vashist1, Ishita Kukreti2 and
Pawan Kumar Taneja3
Abstract
The Government of India preferred legislative lever of public policy over eco-
nomic incentives, funding support, public awareness campaigns levers by enacting
the Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) in the year 2017. MHCA 2017 mandates
for mental healthcare and services for persons with mental illness and to protect,
promote and fulfil the rights of such persons during delivery of mental healthcare
and services. MHCA 2017 is supposed to bring socio-cultural and structural
changes to mental health issues in India. This article seeks to identify the various
issues and challenges in the implementation of the Act at the macro level, specifi-
cally in the areas of prevention of mental morbidities, treatment gaps, reintegra-
tion and rehabilitation of the patient. It also suggests the way forward to remove
the identified barriers.
Keywords
Mental health, National Mental Health Programme, health policy, Mental Health
Care Act
Introduction
Nearly one million individuals die due to suicide every year, and it is the third
leading reason for death among youngsters (United Nations, 2016). According to
an estimate of the World Bank, the global economy loses about $1 trillion every
year in productivity due to depression and anxiety. Mental, neurological and sub-
stance-use disorders are estimated to add to economic output losses of $2.5–$8.5
Article
Indian Journal of Public
Administration
68(2) 257–270, 2022
© 2022 IIPA
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DOI: 10.1177/00195561221080674
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1 BITS Pilani, Goa Campus, Goa, India.
2 BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Telangana, India.
3 Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, India.
Corresponding author:
Pawan Kumar Taneja, Indian Institute of Public Administration, Indraprastha Estate, Ring Road,
Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi, Delhi 110002, India.
E-mail: dr.p.k.taneja@gmail.com
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