Global mental health

Abstract

in promoting the global mental health agenda. Historically, mental health has been the branch of medicine most closely aligned with the law, although mental health legislation often came to perpetuate violations of human rights rather than prevent them. The response of mental health professionals to this historical relationship, however, should not be to distance mental health from legislation, but to reimagine the partnership to protect people's liberty and improve services. These benefits are emphasised by WHO in their report, Advancing the right to health: the vital role of law. 2 India provides an excellent example of a country where potentially positive change is occurring. India's Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 not only decriminalises suicide but provides a fully justiciable right to mental health care, 3 despite no equivalent right to general health care being available. The Indian legislators explicitly drafted their new law to accord with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and delivered the first serious attempt to align national mental health legislation with the CRPD. 3 Although Indian psychiatrists have voiced reasonable concern at elements of the legislation, especially its implementation, they also express optimism about the initiative. 4 This optimism is important. The field of psychiatry has had a problematic history around the world with respect to human rights, and strong, fair legislation is vital. In the words of Martin Luther King, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice". 5 Legislation has a vital role in finally bending the arc of history towards justice for the mentally ill.We declare no competing interests.