Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, ILS, Pune

Our mission is to strengthen and transform the mental health of our communities to be holistic and responsive in addressing individual and collective well-being. Founded in 2007, the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy (CMHLP) is based in Pune at the Indian Law Society (ILS). ILS, our parent body is a not-for-profit established as a charitable society in 1923. We facilitate pathways that enable people to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. To apply a rights-based approach, we collaborate with stakeholders from multiple disciplines including policymakers, mental health professionals, researchers, civil society organisations, persons with lived experience and the media. We work nationally and internationally, with a specific focus on vulnerable & marginalised populations across low- and middle-income settings. Our work addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We focus on: 1. Policy Change: Working with governments to promote evidence-based policy reform and implementation for mental health and suicide prevention. 2. Implementation Research: Partnering with communities to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative & sustainable real-life solutions to improve mental health, suicide prevention, and social outcomes. 3. Capacity Building: Working with diverse stakeholders using participatory learning to promote a shift in knowledge, attitudes, and practice towards mental health for all. Our work is centred around 7 strategic themes: 1. Law & Policy Reform 2. Community-based Mental Health 3. Suicide Prevention 4. Strengthening Health Systems 5. Peer Support 6. Youth Mental Health 7. Training & Education We are currently working on 12 projects which are all at different stages of implementation. Please check our website for more details on each of these projects.