Abstract

By 2030, India will have lost billions as economic loss due to the rise of mental illnesses. Majority of Indians who suffer from some form of mental illness do not have access to adequate mental healthcare services and there is still a lot of stigma associated with mental illnesses. Even though there has been a rise in discussions around mental health, there is still a lot that needs to be done in order to destigmatize mental illnesses, train necessary personnel and set up sufficient infrastructure for mental healthcare in India. This paper aims to look at the prevalence of mental illnesses in India and the legal and policy framework around it. The paper first throws light on the rising incidence of mental illnesses in India. It discusses the prevalence of mental illnesses among the youth of India as well as corporate India. It then goes on to discuss the origin of laws for mental health in India and its evolution with time. The paper then examines and analyses the adequacy of the current legal framework around mental health. It also discusses the Indian government’s central policy for mental healthcare and discusses the issues plaguing the policy. The paper also discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic is going to result in a significant rise in mental illnesses and how India is not prepared for it. The paper concludes by offering suggestions on how to improve the existing legal and policy framework around mental illnesses in India.

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