Perinatal Mental Disorders: The ‘Non Liquet’ Facet of Mental Health Legislative Instruments in India

Abstract

Due to the impetus provided by the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals, maternal health has become the subject matter of various legislative instruments worldwide. However, perinatal mental disorders have remained an underestimated public health issue in many countries. High prevalence rates of such perinatal disorders in India have been reported by various evidence-based studies. This makes it imperative to analyse the provisions of the mental healthcare legislative instruments that have been brought into force in India. This article aims to evaluate and analyse coverage of perinatal mental disorders under the provisions of the legislative instruments, especially statutes, providing for mental health in India. Websites of the Government of India, various Indian Ministries and other government agencies were visited to obtain relevant documents regarding the mental health policy and legislation. None of the mental health legislative instruments in India underscore perinatal mental disorders as a public health concern, whereby failing to identify the unique characteristics of perinatal mental disorders. They consequently do not provide for nationwide detection and treatment measures. There is an immediate and pertinent need to highlight perinatal mental disorders through legislative instruments. The National Mental Health Policy, 2014 provides for comprehensive healthcare services; however, it excludes measures for perinatal mental health services. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 should be amended to explicitly include women during the perinatal period, along with originally provided mental health services for children and elderly individuals.