Judicial Magistrate Dimapur, Boduve Peter Resu speaking during the workshop on ‘Mental Healthcare Act, 2017’ at Tourist Lodge on Friday. (Morung Photo)
Workshop on Mental Healthcare Act highlights mental healthcare and services in the State
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 26
All the States in India had been asked by the Union Health Ministry in 2018 to set up State Mental Health Authority and District Mental Health Review Board to ensure effective implementation of the Mental Health Care Act, 2017.
Three years later, Nagaland is yet to have a State Mental Health Authority.
The absence of State Mental Health Authority makes it difficult to address issues of persons with mental illness, especially among the homeless.
This was highlighted during a workshop on Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 held at Tourist Lodge, Dimapur on February 26 with Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Dimapur, Boduve Peter Resu, panel lawyer Dimapur District Legal Services Authority (DDLSA) Khumchuba and representatives from Prodigals’ Home and Women Helpline 181, Nagaland as resource persons.
The Judicial Magistrate discussed mental illness as explained in the Act and obligation of State governments to implement the Act.
While sharing the need for a mental health authority in the State, Boduve also highlighted the requirement for a shelter home or a transit home specifically for people with mental illnesses who are homeless and out on the streets.
As a follow up, the DDLSA assured that it would facilitate in writing to the State government to set up the State Mental Health Authority.
Organized by Dimapur District Legal Services Authority (DDLSA), Prodigals’ Home and Women Helpline 181 Nagaland for select police personnel, medical staff and Dimapur-based NGOs, the workshop discussed salient features and provisions of the Act.
Dwelling on the salient features of the Act, Boduve said the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, is an “Act to provide for mental healthcare and service for persons with mental illness and to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of such persons during delivery of mental healthcare and services and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”
Further, he highlighted the ‘Advance Directive’ as illustrated in Chapter III of the Act.
Panel lawyer Khumchuba also spoke on the roles of police, NGOs and healthcare officials as envisaged in the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
Director, Prodigals’ Home, K Ela, spoke about Community Mental Health Programme, a project which Prodigals’ Home started in 2020 funded by Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiative. She also shared that there is only one Psychiatrist in the whole of Dimapur which is very taxing.
A representative from the Women Helpline 181 Nagaland shared that Nagaland is one of the first states in the North East to launch the helpline in 2016. 181 is a 24x7 helpline number specifically aimed at providing integrated assistance, medical, legal and psychological assistance to women affected by harassment and violence.
She highlighted challenges faced by Women Helpline including lack of awareness on mental health, no facilities/services for long-term rehabilitation, limited assistance/support from government and repatriation of mentally ill women/girls.
Earlier, Ashi Kiba delivered keynote address on behalf of Office of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
