Chandigarh: The state government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has nominated eleven non-official members to the State Mental Health Authority, providing fresh impetus to mental healthcare services across the region. The decision aims to strengthen statutory regulation, enhance oversight, and protect the rights of individuals facing mental health challenges.
As the state’s primary regulatory body for mental healthcare, the State Mental Health Authority oversees the implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. The newly reconstituted body includes senior officials from health, medical education, and social welfare departments alongside nominated representatives from various professional fields. The non-official panel comprises psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, nurses, patient advocates, caregivers, and non-governmental organizations to ensure policy decisions reflect ground-level medical and lived experiences.
Expressing confidence in the initiative, nominated member and senior psychiatrist Dr. Satyen Sharma stated that establishing the body ensures care develops with quality, accountability, and dignity at its core. He affirmed that expanding community and district-level support remains crucial for accessible treatment. Echoing these sentiments, fellow appointee Dr. Satish K. Thapar declared that responsive local solutions will help build a consistent, rights-based healthcare framework across the state, complementing existing initiatives like the Yudh Nasehan Virudh anti-drug campaign.
