Mental Health Act

THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT, 1987

Aim: To consolidate and amend the law relating to the treatment and care of mentally ill person, to make better provisions with respect to their property and affairs and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

It has 10 chapters

Chapter I : Preliminary
Chapter II : Mental Health Authorities
Chapter III : Psychatric Hospitals and Psychiatric Nursing Homes
Chapter IV : Admission and Detention in Psychiatric Hospital or Psychiatric Nursing
              Home
Chapter V : Inspection, Discharge, Leave of Absence and Removal of Mentally Ill
              persons.
Chapter VI : Judicial Inquisition Regarding Alleged Mentally Ill person Possessing
              Property, custody of his Person & Management of his Property.
Chapter VII : Liability to meet cost of maintenance of Mentally Ill persons detained
              Psychiatric Hospital or Psychiatric Nursing Home.
Chapter VIII : Protection of Human Rights of Mentally Ill Persons.
Chapter IX : Penalties and Procedure.
Chapter X : Miscellaneous.

    I. It is called the Mental Health Act 1987 & came into force with effect from 1.4.93 in all the States and Union Territories.


    II. Mental Health Authorities:

          i) Central Authority for Mental Health Services: - established by the Central Government.
          ii) State Authority for Mental Health Services – established by the State Government.

Authority shall-

  1) Be in charge of regulation development, direction and Coordination with respect to Mental Health Services under the Central Government and all other matters Concerning Central Government / authority / sub. ordinate to Central Government.

  2) Supervise Psychiatric Hospital / Psychiatric Nursing Homes / other Mental Health Service agencies under the Control of Central Government / State Government respectively.

  3) Advice the Central Government / State Government in all matters relating to Mental Health.

  4) Discharge such other functions with... [continues]

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