The provision that decriminalises suicide in the Mental Health Bill is welcome, however, the absence of a complementary provision requiring educational institutions and employers having a strength of a particular number to mandatorily provide access to counselling services makes this provision weaker than it ordinarily would. The Mental Health bill could have mandated employers and educational establishments to mandatorily provide counselling facilities for employees and students on site in order to address stress, depression and the mental health issues that may arise on site and refer people to medical care. This would allow for the breaking down of the stigma related to mental illnesses as it would also force others to recognise that there are people who are suffering from mental illnesses who work alongside them.

Read more at www.firstpost.com