The Mental Healthcare Bill 2016 that provides for mental healthcare and services for people with mental illness, and also decriminalises suicide, secured parliamentary approval on Monday with the Lok Sabha's assent to the legislation.
The bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha in August 2016, ensures every person shall have a right to access mental healthcare and treatment from mental health services, run or funded by the appropriate government. It also assures free treatment for such people if they are homeless or poor, even if they do not possess a Below Poverty Line card.
One of the clauses in the bill decriminalises suicide, stating that a person who attempts suicide should be presumed to have severe stress, and shall not be punished.