In many parts of the world, chaining of people with mental illnesses is not uncommon, nor is seeing people walking around in clearly an unwell state, half naked, and no one takes any notice of them. It is tragic. There is a basic human right, which is not about just healthcare, but it is about the right to life with dignity, a right to citizenship.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the tragic neglect of individuals with mental illnesses, underscoring their right to dignity and citizenship.
Vikram Patel's quote reflects on the societal indifference towards individuals with mental illnesses, revealing a profound ethical concern. He emphasizes that beyond healthcare, every person has a fundamental right to live with dignity and recognition within society. This perspective calls for awareness and action to ensure that those suffering from mental health issues are treated with the respect and humanity they deserve, rather than being marginalized or ignored by the community.
In practice
This quote can be used to start a discussion in a mental health awareness seminar.
It is easy to lay the blame on successive governments for failing to address health as a fundamental right for the Indian people. But the real tragedy is that we, the people of India, have not taken our government to task for this catastrophic failure.
There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone's business.
Mental health can improve overall well-being and prevent other illnesses. And since mental health problems have a serious economic impact on vulnerable communities, making them a priority can save lives and markedly improve people's quality of life.
Most aid agencies do not even consider proposals to treat mental health problems; those that do think of it as a minor player, overshadowed by the pressing need to save lives by treating physical illness.
These practices - non-killing, truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity, and non-receiving - are to be practised by every man, woman, and child; by every soul, irrespective of nation, country, or position.
A journey never ends. Only the travellers end.
One certainty we all accept is the condition of being uncertain and insecure.
Democracy is necessarily despotism, as it establishes an executive power contrary to the general will; all being able to decide against one whose opinion may differ, the will of all is therefore not that of all: which is contradictory and opposite to liberty.
How can I lose faith in the justice of life, when the dreams of those who sleep upon feathers are not more beautiful than the dreams of those who sleep upon the earth?
A woman has a right to an abortion. That's a decision that's up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right.
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