Not long way back, pandemic-induced lockdown in India not only destabilized our social and economic life but also, and most severely, our Mental Health system. Statistics showed that at least one in five Indians suffered due to mental illness, resulting in a 20 per cent rise in the Mental Illness rate across the country. It also led to an alarming increase in suicide rates. Even though it is a general issue among us, failure to meet the necessary steps in preventing people from such illness would increase the death rates due to mental illness. This is because, unlike other health issues, mental health issues affect society at large and leaves us with an increased death rate. Most of these people never put in an appearance to treat their mental health Rather, they commit any offence or remain ill until their death. It is important from the side of states to reduce such mental health issues, both from the psychological and societal points of view. Thus this article will analyze the issue of committal of suicides along with the existing mental health laws and healthcare policies in India.

Suicides in India:

Instead of looking into the theoretical aspect of how suicide occurs etc., this paper would look into statistics, which would help us to know the level of effectiveness of measures and how statistics reacts to it. Suicides remain the third major driving factor or the cause of deaths across the globe, as per reports. Coming to India, a recent study by AnalyticsVidhya.com explores and visualizes the suicides in India for the past decade. The report addresses different areas such as gender-wise suicides, education type, professional side etc.

As part of gender-wise suicides, the male community dominates the females in committing suicides in its report. Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu top the table and reported high suicides rates. Unfortunately, the study also reveals that the rate of suicides across the nation has been steadily incremental; however, 2012 has seen lower rates than 2011.

Looking from the profession, among 17 thousand and odd people surveyed, housewives top the table, followed by people involved in agricultural farming and employees in private enterprises. As an Indian, whose farming sector contributed around 60 to 70 per cent of GDP, it is really sad to see the farmers and agriculturalists attain the second position in the committal of suicides. The report shows that the number of suicides in the Higher education field decreased, but with an alarming rise of almost 49 per cent sees the committal of suicides in the primary and middle stages of education. This has to be noted soon and proper measures should be taken immediately to resolve the same. These are few of the statistical report as to where do the suicide occur the most and what are the sectors involved. Along with these statistics, we need to navigate and make rules to resolve the same.

Mental Health laws:

Why should we focus more on Mental Health issues than any other health issue? The answer to this is because mental health not only makes the affected person suffer, rather, it is interconnected with social, economic and psychological factors. AnalyticsVidhya.com also reports that mental health is the third influencer to push a person to commit suicide, whereas Family problems and economic status tops the tables of causes. This is the reason; we frame policies and enact laws to prevent/resolve such an issue.

World Health Organization defines ‘Mental Health’ as ‘a state of well-being, in which every individual realizes his/her potentials, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and can contribute to his/her community.

In India, there have been enough laws enacted for the betterment of mental health care. Mental Healthcare act, 2017, which was enacted in line with the Convention on Rights of persons with disabilities, tries to ensure the rights of the person with mental illness to get proper care and live with dignity. The act is noted for enabling advance directive provision in it, which allows the person with the illness to direct the way of treatment and his representatives. As Mental Illness might result in the person committing suicide, the act firstly decriminalizes the attempt to commit suicide, which was a penal offence under Section 309 of IPC.

Preventing Suicides vis-à-vis Mental Health Laws:

Focusing more on Suicidal prevention, as mentioned earlier, the Mental Healthcare act, 2017 ensures the right to a dignified life of persons with mental illness. One significant feature, for our article, is the decriminalization of suicide and providing enough relief measures to those people attempting suicide. What is the reason behind decriminalization? This provision presumes that a person who attempts to commit suicide to have severe stress and shall not be penalized. The law vests duty upon the government to provide care and rehabilitation to that person and to reduce his risk of reattempting to suicide. Apart from the legislation, the National Mental health programme, rehabilitation centres under the scheme of Ayushman Bharat and Deadditiction centres ensures that the risk of committing suicides are reduced. Policy to limit the usage of pesticides, guns etc were the barriers that WHO recommended in India, in addition to counselling services.

Conclusion:

Even though there are laws and policy measures that exist, there have been lots of debate around the same. One of such was seen in the Mental healthcare act, 2017, which was criticized for not providing clear procedures concerning Advance directives and appropriation of infrastructural facilities in a country like India. Implementation of provisions of the act also poses a serious challenge. With enough statistics and appropriate facilities, the government should frame a clear policy regarding mental health care. Thus, this paper insists and recommends that as suicides can be a threat to the right to life of youth and other persons across the country, it becomes very essential from the side of states to reduce such mental health issues, both from the psychological and societal points of view.