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National Human Rights Commission has put forward a proposal for introducing a separate paper on mental health for MBBS students. This proposal has been suggested by NHRC is wake of the increasing numbers of people having mental illness. NHRC has been closely monitoring mental health of people across India in various meetings.
"Given the stress of modern life, the problems relating to mental health are going to become more and more complex over the years. Already 20 million people suffer from serious mental disorder and another 50 million from one mild form or the other," NHRC member P.C. Sharma said in a newsletter.
"The country, as of now, is not sufficiently equipped both in terms of infrastructure and mental health care professionals," he added.
Putting forward the suggestions, he mentioned that a separate paper on mental health should be introduced for MBBS course, with the passing in the paper made compulsory.
According to the NHRC, only 40 government run mental health care institutions for a population of over a billion is grossly inadequate.
"The attitude of mental health care professionals should be more sensitive. And the approach of custodial confinement in mental health care institutions should be changed to treatment and care and involvement of society should be encouraged," Sharma said.
He also mentioned the R&D in mental health care should be enhanced.
"The condition in most state run mental health institutions is deplorable. There is an urgent need to address the issue of rehabilitation of people who have been in such homes for a very long time," he added.
