India’s Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

India’s Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 received Presidential assent on 7 April 2017 and was commenced on 29 May 2018. The Act seeks explicitly to align India’s mental health legislation with the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (2006). Key provisions of the new legislation cover ‘preliminary’ matters and definitions; ‘mental illness and capacity to make mental healthcare and treatment decisions’; ‘advance directive’ ; ‘nominated representative’ ; ‘rights of persons with mental illness’; ‘duties of appropriate government’; ‘Central Mental Health Authority’ ; ‘State Mental Health Authority’ ; ‘finance, accounts and audit’; ‘mental health establishments’ ; ‘Mental Health Review Boards’ ; ‘admission, treatment and discharge’ (including ‘independent admission’ , ‘admission of a minor’ , ‘supported admission’ and ‘supported admission beyond 30 days’) ; ‘responsibilities of other agencies’; ‘restriction to discharge functions by professionals not covered by profession’; ‘offences and penalties’ and other ‘miscellaneous’ matters, including de facto decriminalisation of suicide . Overall, the legislation presents a broad range of provisions which, if implemented, will affect virtually every element of mental health services in India. Many of the changes are clearly informed by the Act’s explicit aim to meet the requirements of the CRPD. The legislation has stimulated considerable discussion in the psychiatry literature and while one line of discourse is that the new legislation was not needed in the first place, and that amendments to the Mental Health Act, 1987 would have sufficed, there is nonetheless an acceptance that the new Act will have practical and legal implications in practice and needs to be understood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

• Get 10 units per month
• Download Article/Chapter or eBook
• 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
• Cancel anytime

Buy Now

eBook EUR 117.69 Price includes VAT (France)

Softcover Book EUR 147.69 Price includes VAT (France)

Hardcover Book EUR 147.69 Price includes VAT (France)

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Similar content being viewed by others

Concordance of the Indian Mental Healthcare Act 2017 with the World Health Organization’s Checklist on Mental Health Legislation

Comparing legislation for involuntary admission and treatment of mental illness in four South Asian countries

China’s Mental Health Law

References

• Ali, F., Gajera, G., Gowda, G. S., Srinivasa, P., & Gowda, M. (2019a). Consent in current psychiatric practice and research: An Indian perspective. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S667–S675. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Ali, F., Gowda, G. S., & Gowda, M. (2019b). Approach to and practical challenges in certification in Psychiatry. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S710–S716. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Ameen, S., Gowda, M., & Ramkumar, G. S. (2019). Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Preface to the supplement. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S637–S639. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Bijal, A. S., Kumar, C. N., Manjunatha, N., Gowda, M., Basavaraju, V., & Math, S. B. (2019). Health insurance and mental illness. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S791–S797. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Dalal, P. K. (2019). Message from Vice President, Indian Psychiatric Society. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S634. CASPubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Duffy, R. M., & Kelly, B. D. (2019a). India’s Mental Healthcare Act, 2017: Content, context, controversy. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry,62, 169–178. ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
• Duffy, R. M., & Kelly, B. D. (2019b). The right to mental healthcare: India moves forward. British Journal of Psychiatry,214(2), 59–60. ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
• Gajera, G., Srinivasa, P., Ameen, S., & Gowda, M. (2019). Newer documentary practices as per Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S686–S692. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Gowda, G. S., Enara, A., Raveesh, B. N., & Gowda, M. (2019a). Is it the right time to implement community treatment order in India? Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S816–S820. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Gowda, M., Gajera, G., Srinivasa, P., & Ameen, S. (2019b). Discharge planning and Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S706–S709. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Gowda, M. R., Das, K., Gowda, G. S., Karthik, K. N., Srinivasa, P., & Muthalayapapa, C. (2019c). Founding and managing a mental health establishment under the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S735–S743. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Harbishettar, V., Enara, A., & Gowda, M. (2019a). Making the most of Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Practitioners’ perspective. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S645–S649. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Harbishettar, V., Krishna, K. R., Srinivasa, P., & Gowda, M. (2019b). The enigma of doctor-patient relationship. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S776–S781. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Harbishettar, V., & Murthy, P. (2019). Reorientation of postgraduate training in the background of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S804–S808. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Hongally, C., Sneha, V., & Archana, G. (2019a). How to make rules and regulations for the states in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S827–S831. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Hongally, C., Sripad, M. N., Nadakuru, R., Meenakshisundaram, M., & Jayaprakasan, K. P. (2019b). Liabilities and penalties under Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S724–S729. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Indla, V., & Radhika, M. S. (2019). Hippocratic oath: Losing relevance in today’s world? Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S773–S775. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Isaac, M. (2015). Mental health legislation in South Asian countries: Shortcomings and possible solutions. In J. K. Trivedi & A. Tripathi (Eds.), Mental health in South Asia: Ethics, resources, programs and legislation (pp. 319–332). Dordrecht: Springer. ChapterGoogle Scholar
• Jiloha, R. C. (2015). The Mental Health Act of India. In S. Malhotra & S. Chakrabarti (Eds.), Developments in psychiatry in India: Clinical, research and policy perspectives (pp. 611–622). New Delhi: Springer. Google Scholar
• Kalmegh, B., Bakhshy, A., Harshe, D., & Patankar, V. (2018). MHCA 2017: Together we can. Pune: SMARTT. Google Scholar
• Kumar, V. (2019). Message from Hon. General Secretary, Indian Psychiatric Society. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(10), S635. Google Scholar
• Kumar, M. S., Krishnamurthy, S., Gowda, M. R., & Dhruve, N. (2019). The dawn of eMental health professional. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S730–S734. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Mannekote, S., Pillai, A., & Harbishettar, V. (2019). Civil commitment of persons with mental illness: Comparison of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 with corresponding legislations of the USA. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S821–S826. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Math, S. B., Basavaraju, V., Harihara, S. N., Gowda, G. S., Manjunatha, N., Kumar, C. N., et al. (2019a). Mental Healthcare Act 2017—Aspiration to action. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S660–S666. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Math, S. B., Gowda, G. S., Basavaraju, V., Manjunatha, N., Kumar, C. N., Philip, S., et al. (2019b). The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Challenges and opportunities. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S809–S815. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Math, S. B., Manjunatha, N., Kumar, C. N., Gowda, G. S., Philip, S., Enara, A., et al. (2019c). Sale of medicines by Registered Medical Practitioners at their clinics: Legal and ethical issues. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S786–S790. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Math, S. B., Gowda, G. S., Basavaraju, V., Manjunatha, N., Kumar, C. N., Enara, A., et al. (2019d). Cost estimation for the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S650–S659. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Mohan, A., & Math, S. B. (2019). Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Impact on addiction and addiction services. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S744–S749. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Nallur, D. G. (2019). The need for ‘code of practice’ as a supplement to Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S798–S803. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Namboodiri, V. (2019). Capacity for mental healthcare decisions under the Mental Healthcare Act. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S676–S679. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Narayan, C. L., & Shekhar, S. (2015). The Mental Health Care Bill 2013: A critical appraisal. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine,37(2), 215–219. ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Pavitra, K. S., Kalmane, S., Kumar, A., & Gowda, M. (2019). Family matters! The caregivers’ perspective of Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S832–S837. CASPubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Philip, S., Rangarajan, S. K., Moirangthem, S., Kumar, C. N., Gowda, M. R., Gowda, G. S., et al. (2019). Advance directives and nominated representatives: A critique. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S680–S685. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Prashanth, N. R., Abraham, S. E., Hongally, C., & Madhusudan, S. (2019). Dealing with statutory bodies under the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S717–S723. CASPubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Raveesh, B. N., Gowda, G. S., & Gowda, M. (2019a). How right is right-based mental health law? Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S640–S644. ArticlePubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Raveesh, B. N., Gowda, G. S., & Gowda, M. (2019b). Alternatives to use of restraint: A path toward humanistic care. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S693–S697. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Raveesh, B. N., & Lepping, P. (2019). Restraint guidelines for mental health services in India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S698–S705. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Reddy, I. R., Ukrani, J., Indla, V., & Ukrani, V. (2019). Violence against doctors: A viral epidemic? Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S782–S785. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Sharma, E., & Kommu, J. V. S. (2019). Mental Healthcare Act 2017, India: Child and adolescent perspectives. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S756–S762. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Singh, O. P. (2019). Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA 2017): Is a relook necessary for effective implementation? Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S636. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Sivakumar, P. T., Mukku, S. S., Antony, S., Harbishettar, V., Kumar, C. N., & Math, S. B. (2019). Implications of Mental Healthcare Act 2017 for geriatric mental health care delivery: A critical appraisal. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S763–S767. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Suresh, B.M. (2014). Revisiting mental health legislation of India. Thesis submitted to the National Law School of India University, Bangalore for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. Bangalore: National Law School of India University. Google Scholar
• Swaminath, G., Enara, A., Rao, R., Kumar, K. V., & Kumar, C. N. (2019). Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and homeless persons with mental illness in India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(10), S768–S772. Google Scholar
• United Nations. (2006). Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. New York: United Nations. Retrieved June 1, 2019, from https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2.html.
• Vadlamani, L. N., & Gowda, M. (2019). Practical implications of Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Suicide and suicide attempt. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S750–S755. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• Vaishnav, M. (2019). Message from President, Indian Psychiatric Society. Indian Journal of Psychiatry,61(10), S633. PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle Scholar
• World Health Organization. (1992). International classification of mental and behavioural disorders. Geneva: World Health Organization. Google Scholar
• World Health Organization. (2005). WHO resource book on mental health, human rights and legislation. Geneva: World Health Organization. Google Scholar

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Psychiatry, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Richard M. Duffy & Brendan D. Kelly

1. Richard M. Duffy