Focusing on mental health issues, particularly in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic that has impacted every aspect of life globally, a webinar on World Mental Health Day was organised today by the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) here.
N A Khan, MSLSA Member Secretary, delivered the keynote address and focused on the Mental Health Care Act 2017.
Highlighting the provisions of the act, Khan informed that the law aims at decriminalising the attempted suicide by seeking to ensure that the individuals who have attempted suicide are given the opportunity for rehabilitation by the government.
According to Khan, the act also aims to empower persons suffering from mental illness and also safeguard their rights, along with access to healthcare and treatment without discrimination.
The resource persons were Dr. Arvind Nongpiur, Assistant Professor and Head of Department at NEIGRIHMS, who spoke on the psychological impact that Covid-19 has on mental health, and Dr. Atul Ambekar, Professor at the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS New Delhi, who spoke on public mental health issues related to alcohol and drug use from a legal and policy perspective.
The webinar saw the participation of representatives from state police, Social Welfare Department, legal care and support centres, paralegal volunteers, panel lawyers, MIMHANS and District Legal Services Authorities.
