Mental Health Care Bill 2013 passed by RS on August 8, 2016
Q. RS passed the Mental Health Care Bill 2013 on August 8,. Which act does it repeal?- Published on 10 Aug 16a. Mental Health (Prevention and Cure) Act 1987
b. Mental Health Care Act 1987
c. Mental Health Act 1987
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Mental Health Act 1987
RS on 8th August 2016 passed the Mental Health Care Bill 2013 repealing the Mental Health Act 1987
- Upper house passed the bill with 134 amendments
- Bill provides for mental health services and care for persons with mental illness
- It also permits right of such persons to be protected during the delivery of mental healthcare and services
- Bill also states every person should have right to access mental health care and treatment from services run or funded by the government
- Right to access mental health care includes affordable good quality and easily accessible services
- Persons with mental illness also have right to equality of treatment, protection from inhuman and degrading treatment, free legal services and access to medical records and right to complain regarding deficiencies in the provision of mental health care
- It also provides for a mentally ill person to make an advance directive that states how he wants to be treated for the illness during a mental health situation and who his or her nominated rep should be.
- The bill also decriminalises suicide and prohibits ECT
- It is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that was ratified in 2007.
