‘Awareness, support can prevent mental illness’
August 8th, 2010 - 1:48 am ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) Awareness and community-support at an early stage can help prevent the onset of mental illness, experts suggested Saturday.
They were speaking at a panel discussion commemorating 10 years of Erawadi tragedy in Tamil Nadu, which left 28 mentally disabled people charred to death Aug 6, 2001. The victims could not escape as they were chained.
The discussion laid emphasis on the judicial reforms and social activism needed in the area of mental health. The United Nations convention on the rights of persons with disabilities was also discussed.
Former Delhi High Court chief justice A.P. Shah said: “The horror of the incident should have triggered many positive changes. It is still sad to know that the laws are inclined towards the safety of society from persons with illness.”
Javed Abidi, director of Disabled Rights Group, said: “We need to look at the rights of mentally disabled people. They are abandoned in asylums where they are chained, given drugs that might even aggravate their illness. Their rights are violated.”
- Disabled demand change in mindsets, policy (Dec 3 is World Disability Day) - Dec 02, 2010
- 30 percent jump in budget for disability sector - Mar 16, 2012
- Disabled allege discrimination, to hold sit-in - Aug 09, 2010
- Indian activist attending UN disabled rights meet - Apr 11, 2011
- Delhi to host disabled peoples' international meet - Jun 11, 2011
- Disabled to march in Delhi for their rights - Nov 29, 2010
- Disabled in capital unhappy with CWG arrangements - Sep 17, 2010
- Disabled people plan hunger strike in Delhi for rights law - Jun 08, 2010
- Specially abled persons protest against delay of new Disability Law - Jan 01, 2011
- Rights group to protest non-implementation of 11th plan - May 26, 2011
- Activists protest deaths at home for mentally - Feb 02, 2010
- People with disabilities demand attention on World Disability Day - Dec 03, 2009
- We need a new disability law, says rights group - Oct 28, 2009
- Punish airline for deboarding woman: Disabled rights group - Feb 21, 2012
- Disabled rights group protests lag on schemes - May 27, 2011
Tags: 10 years, asylums, chief justice, convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, delhi high court, disabled people, drugs, horror, judicial reforms, mental health, mental illness, New Delhi, panel discussion, persons with disabilities, positive changes, social activism, tragedy, united nations