Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has granted approval for the formation of the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) in Delhi, criticizing the Aam Aadmi Party government for a delay of more than five years in establishing it, according to sources from Raj Niwas.
The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, mandates the creation of an SMHA in each Indian state within nine months of the legislation receiving the President’s assent. The SMHA plays a crucial role in overseeing and regulating mental healthcare services and facilities within a state, as well as registering mental health professionals.
Lieutenant-Governor Saxena expressed his concern that the proposal for the SMHA was submitted only now, comprising solely ex-officio members, despite the Act’s requirement for a more diverse composition. He emphasized the importance of including experts from various fields in the SMHA, including psychiatrists, mental health professionals, clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, and representatives from mental health organizations and caregivers.
The L-G also highlighted the need for the Delhi Health Department to initiate the process for selecting non-official members for the SMHA, in accordance with the Act and the Mental Health Care (State Mental Health Authority) Rules, 2018.
In response, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the Lieutenant-Governor of holding up nominations for the Delhi Pharmacy Council and returning the related proposal to the government in May. He suggested that the L-G’s dissatisfaction with the government’s nominations for the Pharmacy Council was behind his comments on the SMHA.
The SMHA’s functions include overseeing mental health services, registering mental health professionals, and conducting training programs to educate law enforcement officials and healthcare professionals about the provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act.
The delayed formation of the SMHA underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing mental health issues and promoting mental well-being in India, which is gradually gaining attention as a critical public health concern.
