Mental health ethics and sustainable development in India: Legal perspectives

Mental Health issue is misconceived in many ways without being identified as a medical issue in the context of social, legal and human rights perspectives. A purely medical model to address mental health issues by keeping the social legal determinants away will not achieve success. The issue needs multidimensional approach and efforts in all sections from law making to sensitising society and healthcare professionals and most importantly strengthening and empowering the people with mental health issues. The sustainable development inclusivity Goals direct the policies and action plan in that direction by going to the root causes of exclusion. The laws and policies need to have a strong basis of medical ethics to make them sustainable. This paper tries to explore linkage between the principles of medical ethics, principles of sustainable development and the development in India at the level of laws, policies and judicial trend. It also examines how these efforts have led to contribute towards social justice to the section of people with mental health issues.