Attempting suicide not a crime: What we know about the Mental Health Care Bill

It will no longer be considered criminal to attempt suicide. A new bill decriminalises a suicide attempt by mentally ill persons.

On Monday, Parliament passed the important Mental Health Care Bill in the Lok Sabha. The most significant thing about the bill is that it decriminalises a suicide attempt by mentally ill people. It also provides services for people with mental illness.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 309 of the Indian Penal Code, any person who attempts to commit suicide shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress and shall not be tried and punished under the said Code, the bill reads.

Here is all you need to know about the Mental Healthcare Bill:

Rights of persons with mental illness: Every person will have the right to access mental healthcare from services which are operated or funded by the government. This would include, good quality, affordable and easy access to services apart from the right to equality of treatment.

Advance Directive: The bill provides for a mentally-ill person to have the right to make an advance directive that explains how she/he wants to be treated for the requisite illness and who her/his nominated representative shall be. The bill states that this would have to be certified by a medical practitioner.

Decriminalising suicide: The bill decriminalises suicide attempt under the IPC by mentally-ill persons and makes it non-punishable.

Mental Health Review Commission and Board: A quasi-judicial body to review procedure for making advance directives will be set up. It will also advise the government on the protection of mentally-ill persons.

OneIndia News