Challenges to mental health

care and rights of people with

mental illness

ANNA TOM
10522
LLM
INTRODUCTION
• Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social
well-being. It encompasses a wide range of aspects, including your
thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and overall mental state. Good mental
health is essential for leading a fulfilling and productive life, as it
affects how you think, feel, and act in daily situations.
• challenges to mental health care and the rights of people with mental
illness are complex and multifaceted. These challenges vary from one
country to another and can also change over time.
• Here are some common challenges to mental health care and the
rights of people with mental illness
STIGMA & DISCRIMINATION
•Many people in society hold stigmatizing beliefs about mental illness, leading to fear,
avoidance, and prejudice against individuals with mental health conditions. Individuals
with mental illness may internalize these negative beliefs, leading to feelings of shame,
low self-esteem, and reluctance to seek help.
•Many individuals with mental illness face barriers to employment due to stigma.
Employers may be hesitant to hire or promote someone with a mental health
condition, even if they are qualified for the job.
•People with mental illness often encounter challenges in finding stable housing, as
landlords may discriminate against them.
•Some healthcare providers may not take mental health concerns as seriously as
physical health concerns, leading to disparities in access to quality care.
ACCESS TO CARE
• Shortage of Mental Health Professionals: One of the most significant barriers to access is the shortage of
mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers. This
shortage is particularly acute in rural and underserved areas.
•Geographical Barriers: People in rural or remote areas often have limited access to mental health services due
to a lack of providers and facilities. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
• Limited Services for Specific Populations: Certain populations, such as children and adolescents, the elderly,
and minority communities, may face specific challenges in accessing mental health care tailored to their needs.
•Crisis and Emergency Care: Access to crisis intervention and emergency mental health care can be insufficient,
leading to inadequate responses to acute mental health crises.

• Integration with Primary Care: Mental health care is often separate from primary care, making it challenging
for individuals to receive holistic care that addresses both physical and mental health needs
RESOURCE ALLOCATION
•Limited Funding: Mental health services are often underfunded compared to other areas of healthcare, despite the significant burden
of mental illness on individuals and society. Limited funding can result in a lack of available services, long wait times, and insufficient
preventive and early intervention programs.
•Fragmentation of Services: Resources are sometimes allocated in a fragmented manner, leading to a lack of coordination between
various components of the mental health system. This can result in inefficiencies and difficulties in accessing comprehensive care.
•Priority Setting: Decision-makers must prioritize how to allocate resources within the mental health system. Balancing the allocation of
resources among prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery support is a complex challenge.
•Workforce Development: Allocating resources for workforce development is crucial. Training, recruiting, and retaining mental health
professionals are essential for expanding capacity and improving access to care.
•Preventive Programs: Investing in preventive programs can reduce the overall burden of mental illness and the associated costs.
However, these programs are often underfunded in favor of treatment-focused services.
•Data-Driven Decision-Making: Allocating resources based on data and evidence can lead to more efficient and effective mental health
systems. Data can help identify high-priority areas and target interventions accordingly.
•Crisis and Emergency Services: Adequate resources are needed for crisis intervention and emergency mental health services to ensure
a timely and effective response to acute mental health crises.
•Research and Innovation: Allocating resources for research and innovation in mental health care can lead to the development of new
treatments, therapies, and interventions that improve outcomes for individuals with mental illness
Integration with Physical Health Care
•Bidirectional Relationship: Mental health and physical health are interconnected. Mental health conditions can exacerbate
physical health problems, and vice versa. For example, stress and anxiety can contribute to cardiovascular issues, and chronic
physical illnesses can lead to depression or anxiety.
•Reducing Stigma: Integration helps reduce the stigma associated with mental health care. When mental health services are
provided within the same healthcare settings as physical health services, they become more normalized and accepted as a
routine part of healthcare.
•Coordination of Care: Effective integration requires coordination between mental health professionals and primary care
providers. This coordination ensures that individuals receive seamless care that addresses both their mental and physical
health needs.
•Screening and Early Detection: Integrated care models often include routine mental health screening as part of primary care
visits. This allows for early detection of mental health issues and timely intervention.
•Patient-Centered Care: Integrating care places the patient at the center of their healthcare experience. It involves considering
the patient's overall well-being, including their mental health when developing treatment plans.
•Improved Outcomes: Integration can lead to improved health outcomes. Treating mental health conditions alongside physical
health conditions can result in better disease management, reduced hospitalizations, and enhanced quality of life.
Insurance and Financial Barriers
•Limited Insurance Coverage: In some healthcare systems, insurance plans may offer limited coverage for mental health services. This
can include restrictions on the number of therapy sessions, higher copayments, or deductibles for mental health care compared to
physical health care.
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Even with insurance coverage, individuals may still face high out-of-pocket costs for mental health services,
including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. These costs can be a barrier to accessing treatment, especially for those with
limited financial resources.
• Mental Health Parity: Mental health parity laws aim to ensure that insurance plans provide equal coverage for mental health and
physical health services. However, enforcement and compliance with these laws can vary, and some plans may not fully adhere to parity
requirements.
• In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Providers: Insurance plans often have networks of preferred providers. Finding an in-network mental
health provider who is accepting new patients can be challenging, especially in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals.
• Prior Authorization and Utilization Management: Some insurance plans require prior authorization for mental health treatment or may
subject mental health services to more stringent utilization management procedures compared to physical health services. This can
result in delays in care.
•Lack of Coverage for Specific Treatments: Some evidence-based mental health treatments, such as certain types of therapy or
innovative interventions, may not be covered by insurance, leaving individuals with limited treatment options.
MENTAL HEALTHCARE ACT, 2017
• This preamble of this Act preamble of the Mental Healthcare Act,
2017 aims to provide mental healthcare and services for PMI and to
further promote the rights of such persons during delivery of mental
healthcare and services. The Act is progressive, patient-centric, and
rights-based. Chapter 5 on the “Rights of the persons with mental
illness” is the head and heart of this statutory legislation.