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Written By: Admin | Updated : October 5, 2012 4:29 PM IST
Activists are reportedly upset about the new Mental Health Care bill that still has outdated methods like electro-convulsive therapy and psychosurgery for mental disorders. Experts feel that the bill represents practices which depend too much on medicines rather than more modern and effective therapies. To address this issue, activists started an online petition to get the bill quashed and a letter was shot off to the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The letter specifically stated that the people suffering from mental illness should have all the rights promised by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill and that the Mental Health care bill should be buried.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill guarantees the 'legal capacity' and the 'right to choice' of all persons with disabilities, including those with psychosocial disabilities. "The MHC Bill, on the other hand, only looks at medicalization of mental health issues. We are amazed that the bill retains the archaic and horrendous ECT or shock treatment, which has been banned by most countries," said Kamayani Bali Mahabal, a lawyer and human rights activist.
According to Mahabal, the bill also retains the option of psychosurgery, a procedure which is deemed controversial. The activists are of a view that mental health patients need community-based treatment with groups and peer support, neighbourhood care systems, conflict reduction and peace building strategies, supportive counselling, addressing stigma, trauma-informed services, and a range of other alternatives.
Experts however feel that completely doing away with ECT or psychosurgery won't work.
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