Online & other
Mental health — admitted to a hospital against my will, mistreated, or insurance refused for mental illness
An adult who chooses to be admitted can ask to leave, and admission without consent is allowed only in narrow cases, for a limited time, with review by a Mental Health Review Board. Insurers must cover mental illness like physical illness.
Answer a few questions and get your list →What the law says
The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 gives every person the right to access mental healthcare from government-funded services (s.18), to live with dignity and to be protected from cruel or degrading treatment (s.20), and to free legal services (s.27). Insurers must provide medical insurance for mental illness on the same basis as physical illness (s.21(4)). An adult may seek admission on their own (independent admission, s.86) and can ask to be discharged. Admission without the person’s consent (supported admission) needs specific conditions and lasts up to 30 days (s.89); longer stays need the Mental Health Review Board’s approval (s.90), and the Board hears appeals. Chaining, electroconvulsive therapy without anaesthesia and muscle relaxants, ECT for minors and sterilisation as treatment are banned (s.95). A person can make an advance directive and name a nominated representative. Private “rehab” or de-addiction centres must also follow the law.
General information, not legal advice.
Papers that usually help
- Name and address of the hospital or centre, and the date of admission
Needed for any complaint or application. - Admission form — whether it says independent or supported admission — and any consent signed
Shows whether the legal conditions were followed. - A short dated note of what happened, who decided, and what treatment was given
The Review Board acts on clear facts. - Application to the Mental Health Review Board or State Mental Health Authority, with receipt
The Board can order discharge and stop illegal treatment. - Photos of injuries or chains, and names of people who saw it
Chaining and cruel treatment are banned. - Insurance policy, claim form, bills, and the rejection letter
Refusing cover only because the illness is mental breaks the Act. - The refusal — name of the doctor or office, date, and what was said
Access to government mental healthcare is a right.
Questions Saboot will ask you
- What is the problem?
- Who is asking?
- Where is the person held?
- How long has the person been kept there?
Sources
- Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (sections 18, 20, 21, 27, 86, 89, 90, 95)
- NALSA — free legal aid
Common situations
- My family put me in a mental hospital against my will
- Locked in a rehab or de-addiction centre and not allowed to leave
- A relative is chained or beaten at a faith healer or centre
- Hospital gave shock treatment without consent
- Insurance rejected my claim for depression or psychiatric treatment
- Government hospital refused mental health treatment
- Fired or forced out of college because of a mental illness
- Kept in a mental hospital for months with no review
Also searched as: mental health, mental hospital, psychiatric hospital, asylum, rehab centre, de-addiction centre forced, admitted against my will, forced admission, family admitted me, locked in rehab, chained, electric shock treatment