Sagarika Ghose: Hi there. We are focusing in this show on a subject that concerns us all, mental illness. Currently 130 million Indians are diagnosed with some form of mental illness, including depression, bipolarity and schizophrenia, 90 per cent of these cases remain untreated. The government has come up with new Mental Health Bill 2012. But activists say that the bill doesnt protect the rights of the mentally ill. Mental illness is growing in India, will the new mental health care bill help us deal with this challenge. Joining us Harsh Mander, social activist, someone who has written extensively on this new mental health care bill and someone who approves of this particular bill. Dr Nimesh Desai, psychiatrist and director the Department of Psychiatry and the Medical Superintendent at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences. Joining us Vandana Gopikumar founder of the Banyan, it is a group that extends mental healthcare to the poor. Akhileshwar Sahay founder of Whole Mind India foundation, you have been adviser to the Delhi metro rail and you are someone who has suffered from bipolar disorder. Javed Abidi convener of disabled group, someone who is a critic of the new mental health care bill. Let's kick it off with you Dr Desai, the scale of India's mental problem, 130 million Indians diagnosed with some mental disorder, 90 per cent of them remaining untreated. Does this new mental bill address India's mental health problem?
Dr Nimesh Desai: I would say briefly as you
05:34 PM, Oct 19, 2012
New Delhi: Startling facts coming to light during Mental Health awareness week. A new study says that almost four crore Indians suffer from mental illnesses and there's an extreme shortage of psychiatrists. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, the number of suicides in India could be reduced by at least one-fourth if counselling is given on time. But there's an alarming shortage of trained psychiatrists. Arpita Anand, a...
09:46 AM, Oct 11, 2011
He suffered from mental instability brought by long periods in jail. ... 
Maunabati was chained to a pillar as her parents couldn't afford her treatment. ... 
The Disability Act provides for quota in Government jobs for the disabled. But it has no provision for the mentally ill. ... 
