Mental Illness is Treatable; Awareness and Early Intervention Can Save Lives
SHIMLA: The health experts believe that mental health must receive the same attention as physical health. With rising stress, anxiety, depression and suicides, particularly among students, awareness and timely intervention have become the need of the hour.
The recent Supreme Court guidelines aimed at preventing student suicides and protecting mental health in educational institutions are a significant step in this direction.
These guidelines mandate that every school, college, coaching centre and hostel having more than 100 students should appoint qualified mental health professionals such as counsellors, psychiatrists or social workers trained in child and adolescent mental health.
The guidelines also require mandatory mental health training for teachers and staff, prohibit batch segregation based on academic performance, ban public shaming of students, discourage unrealistic academic targets, establish effective grievance redressal mechanisms and promote regular awareness and sensitisation programmes.
Every educational institution must prominently display the Tele-MANAS 24x7 mental health helpline (14416) on its notice boards and official website.
Tele-MANAS, operating under the National Tele Mental Health Programme, provides free audio and video counselling for people suffering from stress, anxiety, depression, academic pressure, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.
It also guides family members and connects people with nearby mental health facilities.
In Himachal Pradesh, eight trained counsellors are presently working at the State Tele-MANAS Cell. They receive calls from across the state and provide counselling, emotional support and guidance to individuals and their families.
There are also legal safeguards available for persons suffering from severe mental illness. If any mentally ill person is found wandering unattended or behaving dangerously, the matter should immediately be reported to the police.
The officer in charge of the police station has the legal authority to take such a person into protective custody and produce him or her before the Judicial Magistrate.
The Magistrate may then issue appropriate reception orders for admission to a psychiatric hospital or recognised mental health institution for treatment.
During my first posting as Judicial Magistrate at Solan in 1998, a mentally ill person was produced before me. After conducting the necessary inquiry, I passed orders for his treatment at the Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, because at that time Himachal Pradesh did not have the Himachal Hospital for Mental Health and Rehabilitation at Ghora Chowki, Shimla.
Later, while serving at Karsog, another case came before me. A young man suffering from mental illness used to wander around carrying a darat (sickle) and had even thrown furniture out of a school. He too was referred for psychiatric treatment.
What left a lasting impression on me was that both these patients were produced before me after completing their treatment.
Upon interacting with and examining them, I found them to be completely normal. These experiences convinced me that mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible when timely medical intervention is provided.
Unfortunately, society still treats mental illness as a stigma. This misconception prevents many families from seeking timely treatment. We must break this social taboo and spread awareness that mental illness, like any other disease, can be successfully treated.
Many people are also unaware that mentally ill persons are entitled to free legal aid. Under the NALSA (Legal Services to Mentally Ill and Mentally Disabled Persons) Scheme, 2015, they can receive legal assistance, help in obtaining reception orders from Judicial Magistrates and support during treatment and rehabilitation.
Legal Services Institutions regularly visit psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation homes and prisons to ensure that mentally ill persons receive proper treatment and rehabilitation.
At the grassroots level, Legal Care and Support Centres function through Para Legal Volunteers in Panchayats and clusters of Panchayats.
At every subdivision, Legal Services Committees comprising the local Judge, SDM, Deputy Superintendent of Police, President of the Bar Association and a social worker coordinate these efforts.
At the district level, District Legal Services Authorities supervise the implementation of these welfare measures.
In my view, creating awareness and sensitising society is the greatest need today. Families should never hesitate to seek medical or legal assistance for persons suffering from mental illness.
With compassion, timely treatment, legal support and community awareness, we can restore dignity, hope and a normal life to countless individuals living with mental health challenges.
