As the Mental Care Health Bill takes its own time to be cleared from the lok Sabha, patients suffering from mental illness — whether common one like depression or acute like psychosis and bipolar disorder — are being forced to pay through their pockets in the absence of any mediclaim, said health experts on World Health Day on Monday. The Bill envisages insurance cover to patients suffering from mental illness.
Dr KK Aggarwal, renowned cardiologist and President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said, "We have been propagating that there is a paradigm shift the way we need to tackle mental illnesses. That depression is no more a stigma or a social issue, that depression is treatable, that depression is a manageable disease and that depression needs to be diagnosed early.
"If it's a disease then why still it is not covered under mediclaimIJ Why would people disclose 'depression' when getting admitted when their whole claim can get cancelledIJ" he said during the launch of the nationwide campaign on mental awareness, jointly supported by Indian Psychiatric Society, Indian Medical Association and The live love laugh Foundation (TlllF), an NGO by actor Deepika Padukone.
Dr Aggarwal said matter-of-factly, "We say suicidal ideation is a medical emergency and such patients needs admission. If it is not covered in mediclaim nobody will disclose or one will get admitted under the disguise of some other illness.
"On one hand we want special Act for mental health and on the other hand we deny their right to get treated."
His observation holds importance given that the World Health Organization estimates that 10 per cent of India's population suffers from mental health disorders; 80 per cent of those affected are depressed and / or suffering from anxiety, while the remaining 20 per cent battle with severe mental health issues such psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia etc.
Ironically, till the Bill see the light of the day, insurance cover for the mentally ill patients will remain a dream.
Doing her bit to bring the issue to limelight, Deepika, who herself battled depression, said stigma attached to mental ailments is the main reason why the society is struggling to address the problem.
She said, it is important that there is a supporting ecosystem of family and friends that allows the suffering person to cope with the disorder with hope and dignity. Through Tlll we aim to sensitize the people about the mental illness.
Echoing similar views, CEO, McCann Worldgroup India, Prasoon Joshi, who volunteered to develop a special video and poster campaign, "#DobaraPoocho" (ask again) which was unveiled on the occasion, said, "It's important to reach out to those who are unreachable. We need to have a compassionate society where no one should feel that they do not belong to society."