Mental Health Act 2017 and Psychiatric Social Work Practice

Abstract

The Mental Healthcare Act 2017 is an ambitious and progressive step in many ways. The Act guarantees to every person with mental illness, the right to access mental healthcare and treatment from the government. This right includes affordable, good quality, and easy access to facilities such as minimum mental health services. However, implementation will be a key challenge due to the lack of infrastructure and resources available in the country for the treatment of mental illness. The problem is aggravated due to the shortage of mental health care professionals - psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers and psychiatric nurses.

Psychiatric Social Work is an integral part of a multidisciplinary team in the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with mental illness or persons with psychosocial problems.  However, professionally qualified psychiatric social workers are very limited in our country like other mental health professionals.

Keywords: Mental Health Act 2017, India,Psychiatric Social Work