The Mental Health Care Act-What you should know The Mental Healthcare Act 2017 is a law in India that aims to protect the rights of people with mental illness and provide them with better access to mental healthcare services. The key provisions of the act include: 1. Decriminalization of suicide: The act decriminalizes suicide and prohibits the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) without the use of muscle relaxants and anesthesia. 2. Advance directives: The act allows people with mental illness to draft advance directives that specify the treatment they would like to receive in case they are unable to make decisions for themselves. 3. Right to access mental healthcare: The act recognizes the right of every person to access mental healthcare services and mandates the establishment of mental health services in every district. 4. Protection from discrimination: The act prohibits discrimination against people with mental illness and promotes their inclusion in society. Overall, the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 is an important step towards improving the quality of mental healthcare services and protecting the rights of people with mental illness in India.