Its strengthened structure comes as Punjab expands mental health and de-addiction services under Yudh Nasehan Virudh in Punjab. Punjab government has nominated 11 non-official members to the State Mental Health Authority, bringing patients, caregivers, mental health professionals and NGOs into its work. The authority will oversee implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and help regulate services across the state.
The move is aimed at strengthening the state’s mental health system and improving representation in the authority. The nominated members include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers, nurses, people with mental illness, caregivers and representatives of non-government organisations. This gives patients, families and mental health professionals a role alongside government officials in the authority’s work. The SMHA is the state’s statutory body for regulating mental health services. The authority will also have a role in improving the quality and accountability of mental health services across Punjab. The new representation is intended to bring the experiences of patients and caregivers into discussions on mental health policy and services. “The constitution of the State Mental Health Authority is an important step towards ensuring that mental healthcare in Punjab develops with both quality and accountability at its core. The Government is giving us a clear rights-based framework, and the Authority has to translate that into services that people can actually access, trust and benefit from. “Punjab has its own mental health challenges, and we need solutions that are responsive to the realities of our people and communities. The government’s recent efforts to strengthen mental health and de-addiction services, and now the strengthening of the State Mental Health Authority, are positive steps in that direction. The Authority can help bring greater consistency and accountability to services across the state while ensuring that the rights and dignity of patients remain at the centre.
The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has nominated 11 non-official members to the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA). It is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, setting service and quality standards, registering specified mental health professionals and advising the government on mental health policy.
Dr Satyen Sharma, a nominated member and senior psychiatrist, said the authority must focus on quality, accountability, dignity and continuity of treatment. This requires ensuring attention to dignity, continuity of treatment, rehabilitation and the needs of families and caregivers,” he said. There is considerable work ahead, and this is a good foundation on which Punjab can build a stronger mental healthcare system,” he said.
