Thread by @genderlogindia

The videos are to whet conversations on rights of persons with mental illness, persons who live with unique life stressors due to structural oppression. Section 21(1)(a) of #MHCA mandates equality & non-discrimination for all #PWMI What would that look like? Please share

TW: violence, lynching, caste violence, death. I'll start us off. In 2017-2018, three reported incidents of persons with mental illness PWMI being lynched & killed. There's a clear intersection here -with the victims belonging Muslim, Dalit & Tribal communities. Never Forget.

Many persons are involuntarily admitted to mental hospitals - especially women, homeless, economically vulnerable persons (irrespective of their mental health). Institutions are characterized by segregation, no respect for bodily rights, personal space of the users. #Rights #PWMI

There's the freedom to work, perhaps to continue work or find work. For those who are economically vulnerable & live with mental health issues - this can be a vicious cycle. For those who do work -asking for reasonable accommodations may cost them employment. #mentalhealthatwork

#DYK that marriages can & are nullified on grounds of mental illness. Women face this scenario disproportionately compared to men. Ironically, Section 5 (ii) of Hindu Marriage Act references inability to 'give valid consent' in consequence of unsoundness of mind. #Mentalhealth

The further one moves away from the circle of socially sanctioned relationships - the more one faces exclusion oppression -> distress. Not to mention, that forced marriage is sometimes used as a method to control - queer persons (especially those assigned female at birth) or pwmi

Sec16 (b)of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 says a person may be disqualified as a voter when: of unsound mind & stands so declared by a competent court’. BUT, ‘unsound mind’ hasnt been defined in Indian law/constitution. This has caused disenfranchisement for many.

Sec 3 of #MHCA 2017 says ‘Determination of a person’s mental illness shall alone not imply or be taken to mean that the person is of unsound mind, unless he has been so declared as such by a competent court’. This means it has to be legally declared, not just medically #Rights

So, how easy is it for persons with mental illness #PWMI to access elections? To exercise the right to vote? I'll share more on this tomo. Leaving you with a link to #Reframe 2018, from which I have used many diagrams in tweets yest & today. Any thoughts? mhi.org.in/media/insight_…