Awarness campaign on rights of mentally ill persons in Haryana

Chandigarh, Oct 7 (UNI) The Haryana State Legal Services Authority has decided to launch a month-long campaign to create awareness for the protection of rights of mentally sick persons of the state from October 10.

While informing this here today, a spokesman of the Authority said that the World Mental Health Month would be launched from October 10 on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

He said that special efforts would be made to support mentally ill persons suffering from physical and mental disabilities as the beneficiaries categories covered under the Legal Services Authorities Act. During the campaign awareness would be created to sensitise doctors and the patients about the vulnerability of such persons.

This campaign also would also aim at creating awareness about the necessary protection required by mentally disabled persons under the Mental Health Act. During this campaign, the guardians and the attendants of mentally ill persons would be contacted to make them aware of the free legal aid available under the Act.

He said that legal literacy and awareness camps, seminars and workshops would be organized to create awareness of the protection of the rights of the mentally sick persons. Other programmes which would be organized during the month included readings from Mental Health Act in schools, colleges, police stations and NGO centres and visits to mental hospitals and asylums to assess the needs of the mentally sick persons.

Judicial officers and lawyers would also be requested to actively participate in the month long campaign. Material like pamphlets and handbills informing about the Act would also be distributed.

The help of Local Sainik Boards, NCC and NSS departments, medical colleges and law schools would also be taken to make this campaign a success.

UNI