Odisha Helpline “Bharosa’’

Part of: GS-I- Social issue (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST)

To relieve the distress of the student community during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has launched the Central University of Odisha Helpline “Bharosa’’.

Aim: To provide Cognitive Emotional Rehabilitation Services to all University Students of Odisha.
Need Social distancing and self-isolation because of Covid-19, has led to declining in social interactions which further impacts mental and physical health. It is being called the ‘social recession’ i.e. a collapse in our social contacts.
Benefit: This app would provide mental and psychological assistance to the students.

Mental Health

Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
Other Related Initiatives:
- The Government of India has launched the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in 1982, keeping in view the heavy burden of mental illness in the community, and the absolute inadequacy of mental health care infrastructure in the country to deal with it.
- The Supreme Court has held healthcare to be a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Constitution incorporates provisions guaranteeing everyone's right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees protection of life and personal liberty to every citizen.
- In July 2018, Delhi Government launched a happiness curriculum for schools.
- Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

Mental Health Care Act, 2017

Right to make an Advance Directive, wherein patients can state how to be treated or not to be treated for the illness during a mental health situation.
Right to appoint a Nominated Representative: A person shall have the right to appoint a nominated representative to take on his/her behalf, all health-related decisions like:
- Right to access mental health care,
- Right to free & quality services,
- Right to get free medicines,
- Right to community living,
- Right to protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,
- Right to live in an environment, safe and hygienic, has basic amenities,
- Right to legal, aid
- No Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) without anaesthesia
This act brought changes in Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (which criminalized attempted suicide). Attempting to commit suicide is not an offence.
Now, a person who attempts to commit suicide will be presumed to be “suffering from severe stress’’ and shall not be subjected to any investigation or prosecution.

Source: PIB

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