Following psychiatrists, many stakeholders such as activists, lawyers and clinical psychologists have voiced their concern over non-implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 in Maharashtra, even after four years of its enactment. mid-day had, in a report on November 18, highlighted that while several states have started implementation of the Act, Maharashtra is yet to take any step.

Nishit Kumar, founder and managing director of Centre for Social and Behaviour Change Communication, said, “Popular perception is that mental illness is equal to ‘pagalpan’. However, it covers anxiety, stress, depression apart from acute conditions such as schizophrenia, delusional behaviour and the likes. Pandemic-related issues including loss of jobs or vocational income, absence of in-person classes for students, limitations on movements have impacted a big part of the population, taking mental health issues to levels akin to a mental health pandemic.”