Living Conditions of Patients in Mental Health Centres People with mental disorder are particularly vulnerable to abuse and violation of their rights. They are often isolated, stigmatised, discriminated, humiliated, and marginalised. They often end up in unhygienic and inhumane living conditions either in the community or in the mental hospitals with increased likelihood of human rights violation. The Mental Health legislation plays a vital role in laying down the terms and conditions of mental health care; ensure appropriate, adequate, timely and humane health care services; protect, promote and improve the lives and mental well being of citizens; helps to protect the human rights and dignity; and reintegrate persons with mental disorders into the mainstream of the society. It also provides a legal framework for addressing issues such as admissions, treatment, care in the institution and discharge; civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights; and implementation of mental health policy and programmes. A mentally ill person does not become a non person merely on account of disabilities. They have a right to be treated in the Government hospitals and of decent and dignified life as inpatient without any discrimination. Their human rights flow from the fundamental right to life as in Article 21 of the Constitution which includes right to treatment, medical care, clean and hygienic conditions for living accommodation and environmental sanitation, food, potable water, personal hygiene, recreation, accesses to information, clothing, and right to ventilate etc. These are certain irreducible barest minimum needs and deprivation of any one of these amounts to violation of human rights of the person. The living conditions of patients staying in the mental health care centres should have the following dimensions: Psychiatric services: The admissions and discharge are to be made by strict observance of the provisions of Mental Health Act, 1987 and Rules framed thereunder. In accordance with the rules: Patients eligible for admission are those who are 17 years and above. All decisions relating to admission and discharge are taken by a small group of medical officers. No patient should be refused admission as an inpatient if the same is considered necessary by the physician examining him/her. The findings of medical examination and pace of progress of recovery is meticulously documented, medical records kept in safe custody and updated by medical records librarian. Frequency of rounds by MOs and Staff nurses and time spent with patients to establish emotive bond with patients and by-slanders to instill hope and faith in patients and that all is not lost and life can be restarted afresh. Care and Treatment in Mental Health Institutions– Some Glimpses in the Recent Period 55