Chandigarh, Aug. 8 -- Families of persons with mental disabilities, along with psychiatrists and mental health advocates, on Friday urged the Chandigarh administration to implement the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and address, what they described as serious shortcomings, in the functioning of the city's Group Home for persons with mental illnesses.

Addressing a press conference, they alleged that despite the Union government notifying the UT administration in April 2025 to implement the Act, the Chandigarh Mental Health Authority has not yet been constituted. Aditya Vikram, managing trustee of Pushpanjali Trust, said the delay has affected the registration, audit and grievance redressal mechanisms for mental health establishments.

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