The Hindu<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nSyllabus<\/b>: GS 2 – Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector\/Services relating to Health.<\/span><\/p>\nRelevance<\/strong>: Mental health-related issues have become a major aspect of the health care structure in India. Reading all aspects linked to it are important from an exam point of view.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nSynopsis<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\nPersons with mental health conditions need a responsive care system that inspires hope and participation, without which their lives are empty.<\/span><\/p>\nBackground<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Recently, a High Court suggested that <\/span>homeless persons with mental health conditions <\/b>be branded with a permanent tattoo when vaccinated against COVID-19. This would enable the tracking of a floating population.\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Earlier judgments have also suggested \u2018round ups\u2019 of such persons to facilitate pathways into care.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- These are well-intended directives, but may create hardships for the homeless. They might get pushed into overcrowded shelters without their consent in order to control the virus spread.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Challenges faced by Mental Health care patients<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Deplorable conditions<\/b>: In many countries, persons with severe mental health conditions live in shackles in their homes, in overcrowded hospitals, and even in prison. On the other hand, many persons with mental health issues live and even die alone on the streets.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Inadequate Laws<\/b>: Far-sighted changes in policy and laws have often not taken root, and many laws fail to meet international human rights standards. Many also do not account for cultural, social, and political contexts, resulting in moral rhetoric that doesn\u2019t change the scenario of inadequate care.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Social Exclusion<\/b>: The attitude of society is based on traditional prejudices. This results in an \u201cothering\u201d of persons who seem different from dominant groups.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Poor degree of Care<\/b>: It is largely based on a colonial mindset. Individual preference and indigenous culture were substituted with what the coloniser thought was appropriate.<\/span>\n
\n- For instance, doctors interpreted a patient\u2019s refusal to wear clothing as a sign of morbidity, and clothing became a way of civilising the savage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Learn from best practices –\u00a0 The Guidance on Community Mental Health Services<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- It was recently launched by the World Health Organization. The Guidance addresses the issue from \u2018the same side\u2019 as the mental health service user.<\/span><\/li>\n
- It focuses on the co-production of knowledge and on good practices built around the key themes of crisis services, peer support, supported living, community outreach, hospital-based services, and comprehensive mental health service networks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Drawn from 22 countries, these <\/span>models balance care and support with rights and participation<\/b>.<\/span>\n
\n- Tupu Ake,<\/b> a New Zealand-based recovery house service, welcomes \u2018guests\u2019 from various ethnicities.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Atmiyata <\/b>in Gujarat employs a stepped-care approach using community-based volunteers. They identify persons in distress, offer counseling support, and enable access to social care benefits.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Naya Daur<\/b> in West Bengal works with local networks and volunteers who support homeless persons through their outreach programme. This enables access to food, clothing, counseling, shelter, and housing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Home Again<\/b>, a programme of The Banyan in Tamil Nadu, facilitates residence options in regular neighbourhoods. It also offers graded levels of supportive services for persons with severe disabilities.<\/span>\n
\n- It emphasizes <\/span>socio-cultural participation, \u2018neurodiversity\u2019, and normalisation of mental health conditions<\/b>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Way Ahead:<\/b><\/p>\n