BBC & Down to Earth reporting Mental Health Care Bill - engaging in Antilocution of Mothers/family in India.

"Since patients are looked after at home there is no burden on the State" states the first report on the Statistics of Mental Health in independent India issued by the Government in 1970.

Recent reporting in the media about the Mental Health Care Bill has been subjective through anecdotes and Government hand-outs. Examples of these in the international and Indian media reporting are given in these links - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p018vhb  http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/troubled-beautiful-minds They reinforce negative stereotypes of mothers family caregivers and families in India who have children and family members with serious mental Illness. The Indian report appears in a publication headed by a scientist has gone to the extent of referring to Schizophrenia, a serious disabling brain illness as an ‘eccentricity’.
 
The first report on the Statistics of Mental Health in India issued in 1970 by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) which comes under the Ministry of Health and Family titled - ‘Mental Health in India’ by S K Sen Gupta and D R Chawla stated – “There were 38 Mental Hospitals in 1969 with 17,906 beds. There were 10 Child Guidance Clinics in these hospitals. Mental Illness is common among the poorest – 89 percent of the inpatients belonged to the income group of Re 1 to Rs. 100 per month. The incidence of Mental Illness is said to 2 per 1000 of population.’

So the economically poor were seeking medical help in Mental Hospitals after India’s independence from 1947-1969. The report has also stated that a small number of patients are incurable and have to stay in Mental Hospitals. Why the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) an organization which still exists, has stopped investigating and reporting about Mental health in India has not been mentioned, investigated or even analyzed in the BBC and Down to Earth reports is a mystery.

Today there are 38 Mental Hospitals in India, same as in 1969. ‘Since patients are looked after at home there is no burden on the State ‘– states Mental Health in India in 1970. BBC and Down to Earth reports fail to mention what are the costs of giving care to each patient living in these 38 Mental Hospitals run by the Government with its retinue of workers. Mothers /family caregivers struggle to nurture and assist amidst the increasing inflation with no medical insurance so that their loved ones with serious mental illness can resume their daily activities and go back to studying or working which is so essential to lead a life with some meaning and purpose.
 
Instead of including Mothers and Family Caregivers of individuals with serious mental illness in the Mental Health Care Bill they have been excluded by the Government and there is the Antilocution of Mothers and families in such  media reports using the bogey of human rights. Missing is the fact that there is already a violation of human rights of mothers and family care givers of individuals with severe mental illness due to neglect by successive Governments to assist them in the care process of their ‘disabled children/family member' which is the State’s obligation as per the Human Rights Instruments in the UN conventions which India has ratified.

Both BBC and Down to Earth are silent on Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Naturopathy practitioners being vested with the power to run Mental Health Establishments for individuals with severe mental illness as per the definition of medical-officer-in-charge and medical practitioner given in the Mental health Care Bill. They have not questioned authorities as to why the bill is silent on the standard of care which is crucial with treatments for severe disabling mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression in these establishments. The promotions of  such establishments which would be guzzling enormous amounts of taxpayers money as the bill veers sharply from the  road to Mental Health Care to filling the coffers of such establishments has not even been addressed.

Mental Health Care Bill - No Science-based treatments for Severe Mental Illness?

Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Naturopathy practitioners vested to run Mental Health Establishments for individuals with severe mental illness.

Given below are Sections of the Mental Health Care Bill, available on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India-



(m) “Medical-officer-in-charge” in relation to any mental health establishment means the psychiatrist or medical practitioner who for the time being, is in charge of that mental health establishment. (Clause ( j) of Mental Health Act )

(n) Medical practitioner means a person who possesses a recognized medical qualification-

102 of 1956 (i) As defined in Clause (h) of Section 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 and whose name has been entered in the State Medical Register, as defined in Clause (k) of that section; or

48 of 1970(ii) as defined in clause (h) of sub section (1) of section 2 of the Indian Medicine Central council Act, 1970 and whose name has been entered in a State Register of Indian Medicine, as defined in clause (j) of sub-section (1) of that section; or

59 of 1973 (iii) as defined in Clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Sec. 2 of the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 (59 of 1973), and whose name has been entered in a State Register of Homoeopathy, as defined in Cl. (I) of sub-section 1) of that section; or

48 of 1970 (iv) in ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha,homeopathy or naturopathy, registered under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, and working in the field of “Manas Rog” having a postgraduate degree in “Manas Rog”. 



What are the Science-based treatments which these practitioners would use on individuals with severe mental illnesses: Bill silent

What is the standard of care which is crucial along with treatments: Bill silent



Link to Bill:  http://mohfw.nic.in/WriteReadData/l892s/MHC%20BILL%20SCAN%20%28Chapter%20I%20-%20II%29-90558705.pdf#page=9&zoom=125,0,480

Clause k -Incorporated in the new Mental Health Care Bill - vesting powers in all kinds of practitioners?

Clause k of Mental Health Act 1987

k. "medical practitioner" means a person who possesses a recognised medical qualification as defined -

i. in Cl (h) of Sec 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956), and whose name has been entered in the State Medical Register, as defined in Cl. (k) of that section;

ii. in Cl (h) of sub-section (1) of Sec. 2 of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 (48 of 1970), and whose name has been entered in a State Register of Indian Medicine, as defined in cl (j) of sub-section (1) of that section; and

iii. in Cl. (g) of sub-section (1) of Sec. 2 of the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 (59 of 1973), and whose name has been entered in a State Register of Homoeopathy, as defined in Cl. (I) of sub-section 1) of that section; 

RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON SOME REPORTS OF STATE CONSULTATIONS -FAXED ON 1 APRIL 2011

Recommendations which were based on some reports of State Consultations which were received by email from Chairperson, committee for new law for persons with disabilities to replace the PWD ACT 1995, were faxed to the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 1 April 2011. The fax of Director Disability was not working then.

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THERE IS NOTHING 'SOCIAL' WHEN YOU ARE 'ANTI-SOCIAL'

Committee meetings on the new law for people with disabilities to replace the PWD ACT 1995 in India were held on 31st January, 1st February and 2nd February 2011 at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi before the working draft of the new law was uploaded in the website of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India. The State Consultations took place with this particular draft.

The minutes of this meeting were sent by post and through email only in March. When I read through the minutes I was shocked. Concerns which were expressed strongly and objections raised to certain sections in the draft law were missing. ‘Anti-family’ comments expressed by some committee members were not recorded nor the protests which followed. The minutes were written with much legalese and gung ho as if everyone was falling in each other’s arms with happiness and celebrating all the sections of the law which was not what happened.

The names of two male committee members who raised the anti- family statements were not mentioned.

One had stated that, ’families tie up their children.’  Another stated- ‘families are very abusive.’ A committee member, a lady holding an important position in the government, whose statements which are mostly devoid of scientific temper, supported by a large number of members in the committee also stated something about ‘the family’.  

The statements were generalizing and stereotyping families. Coming from the lady committee member was really surprising because she always made it a point to state ‘this is a social model not a medical model’. 

Was she unaware that stereotyping any individual, unit or group is not social?’ 

The minutes of such ‘anti-social’ happenings and other deep concerns about the draft stated by committee members should have been recorded. They were not. 

All the chapters in the draft were not discussed. That should have also been recorded. It was not.

So letters were faxed to the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment with a copy to the Secretary of the Ministry informing him that the minutes were not being accurately recorded. This was done before attending the meetings on 23rd and 24th of March.   

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National Consultation on Mental Health Care Bill 2010, March 22, 2011. New Delhi. India

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The road to National Consultation on Mental Health Care Bill 2010, March 22, 2011 New Delhi

National Consultation on Mental Health Care Bill 2010 March 22, 2011

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