Introduction

Mental Health Act 1987 was repealed with more comprehensive Mental Health Care Act (MHCA)-2017 in order to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of the person suffering from mental illness. There is paradigm shift in the nature of the legislation from the protecting the society from persons with Mental illness ( PMIs ) by confining them to mental asylums to providing them with equal opportunities of full participation in social living. The Mental Healthcare Act (MHCA) 2017 received the assent of the President of India on 7th April, 2017 and the Final Rules were notified on 29th May, 2018 by Govt. of India in the Official Gazette and MHCA, 2017 was declared to have come into force w.e.f. 29th May, 2019. In the Chapter VIII (Section 45-56), of MHCA- 2017 the provisions regarding establishment, composition and constitution, functions of SMHA and other important Sections regarding SMHA have been mentioned.

State Mental Health Authority, Uttarakhand came into existence by Government order No. 156(1)/XXVIII-4-2019-16(writ)/2018 dated 12-03-2019 under the new act. Director, Department of Health and Family welfare was nominated as CEO under Section 52(1) of MHCA. Seven Medical Review Boards have been constituted in the state of Uttarakhand.

About Uttarakhand :
Uttarakhand is small Hill state in Northern India. Total population of Uttarakhand as per 2011 census is 10,086,292 of which male and female are 5,137,773 and 4,948,519 respectively, with an area of 53,483 sq. km. 69.77 %people live in rural regions. The urban population in the last 10 years has increased by 30.23 percent. There are 13 districts. Traditional belief system and faith healing is common modality of treatment of mental illnesses. However the family system is strong and in majority of cases abandonment by the family does not happen.

Mental Health facilities :There is one State level Mental hospital ie. State Mental Health Institute, Selakui, Dehradun with a bed capacity of 30, which is being upgraded to a 100 bedded facility. Under National Mental Health Programme – 22 medical officers have been trained by NIMHANS recognized “Diploma in primary care psychiatry”. District Mental Health Programme is running in all the districts in Uttarakhand but because of the shortage of mental health professionals the level of services is largely identifying the Mental illnesses and refer the patient to appropriate mental health facility.

SMHA -Uttarakhand -Present scenario
State Mental Health Authority Uttarakhand has been constituted .
CEO have been appointed.
7 District Review boards have been notified.
The state rules and regulations are under process of adoption by SMHA , uttarakhand .