Indian parliament passes bill to decriminalize suicide
But the most important aspect of the Mental Healthcare Bill 2016 is the decriminalization of suicide. The bill ensures that a person who attempts suicide should be presumed to be suffering severe stress and shall not be punished.
According the provisions of the bill, "Any person who attempts to commit suicide shall be presumed, unless proved otherwise, to have severe stress and shall not be tried and punished under the Indian Penal Code."
Considering the growing number of mentally ill persons, which is estimated to be around 7 percent of India's population, the Mental Healthcare Bill 2016 is considered a necessary move by the government.