Practical implications of Mental Healthcare Act 2017: Suicide and suicide attempt

The prevalence of suicides has been increasing in recent years. The number of persons who attempt to die by suicide is 25 times that of the number of those who die by suicide every year. Indian Government passed the Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA), 2017 in the middle of 2018. Section 115 of the act decriminalized the attempt to die by suicide, thereby reducing further stress on the victim. This has legal implications with regard to abetment laws of Sections 109, 116, 306, and 309 of Indian Penal Code. Regarding mental healthcare delivery, this act enables the person who attempted to die by suicide, to access free healthcare, treatment, and rehabilitation. The cost implications for the government are enormous. Medical professionals, mental health professionals, and general and mental health establishments involved in the care of persons who attempted to die by suicide need to update their knowledge to enhance their assessment and management skills to align with the provisions of the act. Massive public awareness programs need to be conducted to enable persons who attempted to die by suicide, to access mental healthcare as per the provisions of the MHCA 2017.