The Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, East Khasi Hills District and District Mental Health Programme, Meghalaya Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Science (MIMHANS) organised a Legal Awareness Programme on occasion of “Pan India Awareness and Outreach Programme as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” and as part of observation of World Mental Health Day today at the premises of MIMHANS, Lawmali here.
The programme was attended by the family members of the patients of the facility, doctors, nurses, staff and medical students.
The resource persons for the legal awareness programme were MLSA Officer on Special Duty T T M Sangma, District Legal Service Authority Secretary D Sohtun, MIMHANS Additional Superintendent Dr. B Mawlong, and District Mental Health Programme psychiatrist Dr. B Sohkhlet.
The topics covered during the programme were free legal aid, right to life, awareness on mental health, stigma and superstition relating to mental illness.
Further, provisions of the Mental Health Care Act, 2017 relating to discrimination, legal aid to mentally ill persons, duties of the government and special provisions relating to suicide were deliberated upon.
Other topics included were Covid-19 vaccination for mentally ill persons, compensation under MHIS schemes and procedure related to obtaining disability certificates.
