NEW DELHI, OCT 10 : On World Mental Health Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued an Advisory to the Centre, States and UT Administrations to ensure the welfare and rights of persons with mental illnesses.

The Commission has observed that mental health is the foundation for the well-being of any person for a meaningful and productive life. However, despite the enactment of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 to provide mental healthcare services to persons with mental illnesses and protect their rights; its implementation on the ground remains a matter of concern, NHRC said in a statement.

The Advisory has focused on seven key areas for action including implementation of existing laws and policies, infrastructure and amenities, human resources, outreach and community services, rehabilitation of recovered patients, services of the States and mass awareness and sensitization, it said.

The Commission, in a letter to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Welfare, Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories, has asked for the implementation of its recommendations in letter and spirit and sought action taken reports within two months.

As per NHRC, some of the important recommendations, among others, are insurance policies and schemes should include treatment of mental illnesses to increase accessibility and affordability to mental health care, to boost accessibility to treatments for mental disorders for financially disadvantaged populations, it is necessary to include mental illness in the “Aayushman Bharat” scheme, appropriate help be provided to patients and their family members to open their bank accounts and they should be made aware and facilitated with various benefits and social schemes, camps may be organized and set up in Establishments to provide Aadhaar cards to patients and to update their details mandatorily, ‘Mental Health’ may also be included as a subject matter to which Corporate Social Responsibility Funds may be given under Schedule VII (i) of the Companies Act, 2013, and a person should be specified in each Establishment to ensure free legal aid is provided, as mandated under Section 27 of the Act, 2017.(UNI)