Psychiatric Care in India and the Laws Pertaining to It

Abstract

Psychiatric care is an essential requirement for every individual. The requirement is downplayed by the fact that such a disability is not present physically, it cannot be seen through the eyes and therefore the importance is not realized. On 2008 UN Convention on Protection of People with Disabilities which came into effect. The convention aimed at improving the approach and resolving the attitudinal obstacles and environmental perception that an individual faces. This moved towards a more positive perspective by taking step aside from the "medical model" of such disability towards social model, or it could be described as change from "charity approach" to such "right-based approach" towards disability. The convention resulted into the adoption of two legislations in India, the 2016 Legislation on providing the rights of persons with disabilities, and the 2017 Mental Health Act. Both acts provide provisions relating to psychiatric health. This paper talks about both of the Acts and the salient features of the Act which ensure better care of the mentally disabled in the country.