Welfare Law for Mentally Ill - Importance and Implementation

Running head: WELFARE LAWS 1
Welfare Law for mentally ill
Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Welfare law for mentally ill
Welfare is the support of citizens by the government whereby it tries to ensure that the
poor can also meet the minimum standards of quality life by offering subsidized services or
goods. (Bullock &Stephen 1999) Those included in this support in our country include, the ill,
the disabled, the poor, the aged, victims of crime, Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders, the
mentally ill and many more. The World Health Organization defines health as ‘a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity’ (WHO 1948). An individual’s health is determined by the conditions under which one
lives and works; and the set of programs outlined to deal with one’s illness. This is directly
proportional to the socioeconomic status and the government’s policies on health. Thus, other
than economic status, housing standards and many more, Health is also therefore a component of
welfare; which is a condition whereby an individual is in a state of faring on well. Mental illness
is therefore a deviation from the normal wellbeing.
Mental illness is really broad and includes, but is not limited to mood disorders such as
depression, anxiety and maladaptive behaviors such as substance abuse (commonly alcohol
abuse) For instance, in Australia, According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,
Mental illness contributes about 12% of the disease burden in Australia, with a 45% risk (i.e.
about half of the population) of developing mental illness among aged 16-85 years (Deutsch,
2013). The risk groups include, former Australian Defense Forces members, females with eating
disorders and same sex sexual partners. Members of the family are affected when one of them
has mental illness and it also plays also contributes significantly to conditions like homelessness,
poverty and unemployment rates (Fairweather, Sanders, Cressler, & Maynard, 2017).. Thus, the

WELFARE LAWS 3
welfare service greatly impacts on the lives of the mentally ill in a bid to try raising their living
standards.
The mentally ill faces a lot of stigmatization in the society and may lack capabilities to
make the right choices with regard to themselves and others. Since most of the time they lack
insight on their disorder, it may be difficult for them to accept the treatment choices availed to
them. It is with this in mind that mental health legislation, a structure that stands for their rights
and has their good at heart was established. This ensures that they are well integrated into the
society and they receive quality living standards, in terms of employment, housing, studies other
the management of their health status. This is all enacted by the legal framework within the
country. This legislation is although not present in about 25% of countries and the other
significant numbers that have it, it is not a guarantee that the rights of the mentally ill will not be
trampled upon. ("Mental Health Legislation and Human Rights", 2018)
In India, for instance, “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and Persons
with Mental Illness” Mental illness was only categorized as a disability; but their needs and those
of their caregivers (family members) were not addressed when this Act was being instituted. This
is regardless of the fact that, family members have been known, in most cases to be the key asset
in offering proper support to the mentally ill. In fact, those with a good family support normally
have a good prognosis with this condition and their efforts should therefore be encouraged since
the absence of family members may leave them to themselves or force them to aimlessly wander
in the streets. Failure to involve them in this act is said might criminalize them if they try to be of
help to their mentally sick relative who most of the time have poor judgment. At the same time,
whereas the People living with disabilities have been offered protection from ill treatment,
violation, desecration and being mishandled; it has not been modified to suit the mentally ill.